‘Hammer’ murder charge

Press, 13 April 1978, Page 8

‘Hammer’ murder charge

NZPA-Reuter Detroit A playwright has been charged with first-degree murder for the sledgehammer death of an aspiring actress while auditioning for a scene in his play, “Hammer.”

Patricia Cowan, aged 20, of Detroit, died cm Monday of several blows on the head and body from a 2.5 kg short-handled sledgehammer. Her son, Dequan, aged 4, was in hospital in a serious condition with injuries. The police in the Detroit suburb of Highland Park say James Thomas, aged 21, of Highland Park, has been bound aver to await trial on the murder charge. He was jailed without bond. The scene in “Hammer” was written as an argument between a man and his wife, said Detective Peter Keliher, and Mrs Cowan had paid SUS 100 to audition for the lead. Mr Keliher said Mrs Cowan and the playwright had been acting the scene when he had grabbed the sledgehammer and struck the young woman repeatedly on the head from behind. He said Thomas had then attacked the boy.

The woman’s body and the boy were dumped in an alley about four blacks f?om the playwright’s garage. Two children heard the boy’s cries and found the victims. The hammer and some blood-stained clothing belonging to the playwright had been recovered, Mr Keliher said.