Jun 21, 2006 8:19 am US/Mountain
Witness Protection Law Passed After Murders
by Jodi Brooks
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) ―
Friends and family of Javad Marshall Fields and his fiancee Vivian Wolfe marked the first anniversary of their murders Tuesday night with a memorial celebration. The group was thankful the couple's deaths have led to a new law that increases protection for witnesses.
Investigators have said Marshall Fields was targeted and killed in Aurora last summer because he was scheduled to testify in a murder trial.
His mother and Wolfe's mother fought to change Colorado's witness protection law in the couple's memory.
"Javad's spirit and Vivian's spirit wouldn't let me collapse," Rhonda Fields, Javad Marshall Fields' mother said. "I was called to action."
"In spite of it all, in spite of everything that's happened, we stand here today to say and celebrate the lives of these two beautiful people," Maisha Pollard, Javad Marshall Fields' sister said.
The families worked with state representative Michael Garcia to craft the new law which takes effect next month.
"House Bill 1379 will require annual training, education and risk assessment for individuals who work with witnesses," Garcia said. "Right now, Colorado currently has a witness protection program, but there's no training or education requirement at all."
The new witness protection law was named after the murdered couple.
Three men have been charged in connection with Javad Marshall Fields and Wolfe's deaths.
Robert Ray, Sir Mario Owens and Parish Carter are all in custody and were set to appear in court next month.
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