When an enraged motorist chased a woman with a car jack after a fender-bender and forced her to jump to her death off a bridge, some who stood by and watched thought it was a joke.
Now that the man has been convicted of murder and faces life behind bars, the jury foreman hopes it sends a message that attacks on women will no longer be tolerated as a laughing matter."We wanted to make a statement to the young men of this city," said security guard William Brown. "You can't go around battering young ladies. The people aren't going to take it anymore. If you are a man who puts your hands on a woman, you'd better think twice."
Jurors deliberated less than five hours over two days before finding Martell Welch Jr., 20, guilty Monday of second-degree murder - the most serious charge against him - in the Aug. 19 drowning of Deletha Word in the Detroit River.
Welch, at 6-foot-1 and 260 pounds, was convicted of forcing the 4-11, 115-pound Word to jump off a bridge.