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Boulder police were ready to tell Ramseys about evidence

The Ramseys, with attorney Lin Wood, underwent two days of questioning about the murder of their daughter, JonBenet, by Boulder authorities

ATLANTA (CNN) -- Police participating in the questioning of John and Patsy Ramsey about their daughter's death in 1996 were ready to tell the couple what evidence put them under suspicion in the case, before heated arguments over the validity of other questions broke down the talks.

Tapes released to CNN by the defense Wednesday showed the argument between the Ramseys' attorney and a special prosecutor from Boulder broke out over questions concerning the couple's son, Burke.

Special prosecutor Michael Kane asked Patsy Ramsey why she allowed Burke to go to and from school without security.

"Well, he left the garage in a locked car and drove straight to school, and then was escorted into the school," Ramsey answered.

VIDEO Excerpts from the deposition of John and Patsy Ramsey provided by their attorney, Lin Wood Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   TRANSCRIPT Larry King Live: Ramsey attorney Lin Wood and special prosecutor Michael Kane spar over the Ramsey deposition (August 31)   GRETA@LAW CNN's Greta Van Susteren talks to John and Patsy Ramsey about the JonBenet murder investigation (taped April 28, 2000)   MESSAGE BOARD The Ramsey case

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When Kane attempted to push Ramsey further on the question, her attorney, Lin Wood, questioned Kane, "I just wonder, what does this have to do with the investigation into finding who killed JonBenet Ramsey?"

Kane then accused Wood of attempting to obstruct questioning, which Wood denied.

The next few minutes of the tape showed the two attorneys arguing over the questioning, with Kane calling the questioning "a sham" and threatening to walk out of the room.

Wood told CNN Wednesday that he allowed his client to answer all of the questions she was asked, but he did not believe the question about Burke was relevant, calling it "the disgusting tactic of an overzealous prosecutor."

The argument erupted during questioning Tuesday by Boulder investigators over the unsolved 1996 killing of the Ramseys' 6-year-old daughter, JonBenet. Investigators said the sessions, held Monday and Tuesday, produced "less than we had hoped for."

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Boulder Police Chief Mark Beckner, who participated in the sessions, said his office was prepared to explain "what evidence we believed put them under suspicion, and explore whether they had any explanations for some of that evidence."

Beckner said the Ramseys' attorney wanted to see portions of lab reports prior to allowing his clients to answer questions about forensic evidence. But, he said, it is not in the best interests of the investigation to release any further police reports on the crime.

The Boulder investigators questioned Patsy Ramsey for seven hours over the two days and her husband for about 2 1/2 hours in Wood's Atlanta office. They were the first interviews Boulder investigators had conducted with the couple since 1998.

Boulder Police also disagreed with Wood's decision to release portions of the interview tapes.

"We also believe it is not in the best interests of the investigation to release any portion of videotaped interviews or their transcripts," Beckner said. "In fact, it potentially harms our ability to find justice for JonBenet."

The Ramseys have been under intense scrutiny since their daughter was found dead -- strangled and beaten -- in the basement of their Boulder home the day after Christmas in 1996.

The family moved back to Atlanta a short time after the killing. They have maintained their innocence in the case, and wrote a book entitled "The Death of Innocence" to explain their theory that a pedophile intruder killed their daughter.

A grand jury investigation failed to return an indictment in the case.

Ramseys' attorney calls questioning 'waste of time'
August 28, 2000
Ramseys square off with ex-investigator over JonBenet's death
June 1, 2000
Ramseys file two more lawsuits on behalf of son
May 11, 2000
Ramseys reject lie detector tests, for now
April 25, 2000
Ramseys to write book on JonBenet's death
November 6, 1999
Governor decides against special prosecutor in Ramsey murder
October 27, 1999
Ramsey grand jury discharged; no indictments issued
October 13, 1999
Police costs relating to JonBenet homicide top $1.3 million
October 12, 1999
JonBenet grand jury nears end of term
October 11, 1999

City of Boulder: Ramsey Press Releases
Boulder District Attorney
Inside Denver - Ramsey Story Archive
DenverPost.com - JonBenet Ramsey Murder Case
Ramsey Family Statements
Ken Polzin Jr.'s JonBenet HomicideWeb Sites Page
Halle's Web Guide to the JonBenet Ramsey Case

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