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Pastimes : Murder Mystery: Who Killed Yale Student Suzanne Jovin? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jeffrey S. Mitchell who wrote (442)	2/29/2000 5:15:00 PM
From: Jeffrey S. Mitchell	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1397

Re: 2/29/00 - Van de Velde denies involvement in Jovin murder in `20/20' interview Van de Velde denies involvement in Jovin murder in `20/20' interview (New York-AP, Feb. 29, 2000) _ During the nearly 15 months since Yale University senior Suzanne Jovin was found stabbed to death in an upscale New Haven neighborhood, police have insisted that they have a pool of suspects, including a former Yale lecturer. But the ABC News show "20/20" will report Wednesday that the alibis of 20 other suspects have so far checked out. Citing sources close to the investigation who it did not identify, "20/20" reports that only the former lecturer, James Van de Velde, does not have a confirmed alibi. In his first in-depth television interview, Van de Velde _ who has not been charged _ vehemently denies killing Jovin. "No!" he said. "I have never committed an act of violence in my entire life. I have never so much as kicked a cat in my life. There can never be _ there are no reports ever of me committing any violence or threatening anyone." Van de Velde said he was home watching a taped episode of "Friends" and the Discovery Channel at the time police believe Jovin was killed. The 21-year-old political science major from Goettingen, Germany, was stabbed 17 times on the night of Dec. 4, 1998. The "20/20" broadcast, scheduled for 10 p.m. EST Wednesday and previewed Monday by The Associated Press, includes chilling details about the last moments of Jovin's life. "I can't believe you're doing this!" Jovin said, according to a passerby who heard the words minutes before Jovin's body was found. A few minutes earlier, at about 9:45 p.m., a neighbor had heard a man and woman arguing. Five minutes later, another neighbor said she heard a woman scream five times. Van de Velde, 39, was Jovin's senior thesis adviser. He flatly rejects what "20/20" said is a police theory _ that he killed Jovin after she rejected his romantic advances. "Ludicrous," he said. "I had no relationship with this woman. We never argued. I never saw her outside of class. I didn't even know where she lived." Van de Velde also denied reports that he had harassed three local television reporters and developed a reputation as a stalker of women. And he said he was unaware that Jovin told family and friends in the week before her murder that she was angry with him because she felt he was not giving her enough feedback on her senior thesis. Van de Velde said that New Haven police and Yale University officials _ anxious to solve the slaying of a student _ made him a scapegoat. "This is a case of institutions colluding and making a mess of a crime," he said. After the murder, Yale declined to renew his one-year contract, saying his presence would be a "distraction" to students. A Yale spokesman declined to discuss the case. Police Chief Melvin Wearing could not be reached for comment. He did not respond to messages from the AP left at his office. Van de Velde's lawyer, David Grudberg, criticized the police for saying they had several suspects but identifying only one. "I don't know what would be worse _ lying to the public about the existence of a `pool of suspects,' or only naming Jim Van de Velde ... and exposing him to destruction of his life," Grudberg told the AP. Van de Velde told "20/20" he has lost his life savings and been unable to find work despite applying for more than 30 jobs. He has left New Haven and has been living with family and friends. "It doesn't escape me," he said. "And will likely not escape me until the police arrest someone or withdraw their label of me as a suspect." Watch part of the 20/20 interview with James Van de Velde tonight on News Channel 8 at 6:00 and at 11:00. wtnh.com