The tech CEO who was arrested at JFK Airport last year in connection with the alleged strangulation of his roommate’s girlfriend Laurie Houts in 1992 has been released for a third time.
A judge in Santa Clara County, California last week dismissed charges in the 30-year-old’s alleged love triangle involving 59-year-old John Woodward, citing double jeopardy, according to KTVU.
The CEO of ReadyTech, an online training company, was tried twice for the crime in the 90s, but both trials ended in hung juries, and the case was dismissed for lack of evidence.
Woodward then moved to Holland to enjoy his freedom.
But in 2021, new developments in forensic testing linked his DNA to the rope used as the murder weapon.
He was arrested at Kennedy Airport in New York City after flying back to the US last summer.
Woodward is accused of using a rope to strangle 25-year-old Houts in his car after he left his job at Adobe Systems in Mountain View.
Laurie Houts was strangled to death in 1992. John Woodward was tried and acquitted of the crime three times. Mountain View Police Department
Prosecutors plan to appeal the judge’s decision to dismiss John Woodward for a third time. Mountain View Police Department
Woodward’s fingerprints were found on the side of the car in the 90s.
Prosecutors claimed the tech CEO was openly jealous of her relationship with her roommate and had no alibi.
Prosecutors announced they would challenge Judge Shella Deen’s decision to dismiss the charges.
“We are appealing the judge’s decision because we want the defendant to be held accountable for murder,” Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement.
The woman’s friends and family told Bay Area Fox affiliates they will continue to fight for justice in the case.
Friends and family of homicide victim Laurie Houts add flowers to her memorial.KTVU
“The appeals process is how you actually change the system, and that’s what really needs to happen,” said Houts’ sister, Cindy Levers. “So we will fight through this appeal process and hopefully get justice.”
“We were disappointed that we couldn’t be in the courtroom, and he couldn’t say it in front of us when the verdict was handed down. Everything came via email,” Houts friend Marilyn Reiss told the station.
“If this judge can make this decision on our case, then all the cold cases will go forward where DNA evidence has been found later, after decades of family waiting, then their cases are in jeopardy as well,” Reiss said.
“There are many of us who love Laurie, who will remember and continue to connect and shine a light on this case until justice is served for Laurie.”
Woodward did not immediately return a request for comment from The Post.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
