MUNISING, MI (AP) -- The Michigan Supreme Court has scolded an Upper Peninsula prosecutor for inappropriate comments during the 2008 trial of man convicted of killing his wife by pushing her off a cliff.
The court says Karen Bahrman did not violate Thomas Richardson's right to a fair trial. But the court knocked the Alger County prosecutor for a variety of remarks in front of jurors.
Bahrman referred to a defense witness as a "whore" and one of her own witnesses as a "bottom feeder." In an order released Thursday, the Supreme Court called it "simply unprofessional."
Bahrman says the "whore" comment was about a witness who was paid for testimony. She says she has no regrets.
Richardson was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of wife Juanita at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Richardson lost an appeals court case in November, 2010. He is serving a life sentence for the murder. Richardson claims his wife fell off the rocks while he was coming back from the bathroom.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
