41 blows and it's self defense?

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 9:45 am

On TV last night (the TRU channel, formerly Court TV) they had a one hour show on the axe murder of Betty Gore in 1978. The case is covered in the Crime Library at:

http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_m ... index.html

Betty Gore was murdered by Candy Montgomery. It involved a love affair with Betty's husband and Candy. The crime was investigated and Candy was arrested and held for trial. She admitted nothing when arrested.

When her trial began, her lawyer in his opening for the defense stated that Candy was the murderer and that Candy claimed it was self-defense. Betty had grabbed a 3-foot long axe, threatened and struck at Candy and they struggled with the axe with Candy getting control of it.

Betty was struck 41 times with the axe. A number we've heard before. The hostess of the show, writer Sandra Brown, couldn't help but notice that specific number and recited the famous Borden jingle.

The startling decision of the jury was that Candy was found Not Guilty!

Worth catching if it's on again.

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:19 pm

Thanks, Harry. It sounds like a good one to catch if it ever comes on again.

diana · Post by **diana** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 6:13 pm

Some of us have mentioned the book written about that case on the forum before -- but it's definitely worth looking out for. The title is 'Evidence of Love' and its by John Bloom and Jim Atkinson. A fascinating read! It also inspired an excellent movie called "Killing in a Small Town' starring Barbara Hershey and Brian Dennehy that Bob G. reminded us about not so long ago.

I think the book came out in 1984 -- so it may not be that easy to find.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:18 am

The book was better than this show.
The movie was better than this show.
The show was boring in comparison. But at least Har reminded me it was on and I got to see it. If the picture of the body and crime scene was real, then that was interesing.

I don't know how rare that book is- we have bought it in paperback several times over the years...after loaning it out and not getting it back again.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:28 am

You can get the book for as low as $1.84 on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Evidence-Love-Sto ... 0932012485

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:28 pm

I've never heard of this case so I'll have to look it up.

41 blows? Did she need the practice? Over-kill I'd say. Reminds me of Veronica Cartwright's line in Hitchcock's movie "The Birds": "He was convicted of shooting his wife in the head six times! Six times!! I mean even twice would have been over doing it."

Thanks for the information on this case. I'll track it down.

-1bigsteve (o:

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:54 am

Excellent book. I read it a few times. The only other book I read that many times was Clematis (1918?).

Now I want to know if the count of 41+ wounds is accurate...

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:01 am

I thoroughly enjoyed the TV show and would watch it again.

The amount of blood was substantial and wide spread.

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:07 am

I saw the movie a couple of times. It was very good. Thanks for reminding me of the title!

I did catch the tail end of that documentary Harry mentions. I wish I'd have seen the whole thing, but I'll hope for a rerun.

I think Candy was having an affair with the soon-to-be-victim's husband. One day she went over there and the victim struck her first (?), and, well, that woman really shouldn't have messed with Candy.

Candy kept denying it and denying it, until finally she was hypnotized

and recalled it.

Did she get completely acquitted? Didn't she even get something for manslaughter? I can't remember.

Cheryl · Post by **Cheryl** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:54 pm

I did not realize that tv movie was based on a true story. I recall seeing it, and in fact rate it up there with the more disturbing movies I've ever seen.

The movie indicated that she was found not guilty and walked free, from what I remember. According to the movie, the instrument of death (axe), is what helped her get acquitted...she apparently had a ton of repressed anger. That, coupled with the terror of being threatened with the axe, the defense argued, made Candy flip out and overkill her attacker. A very dark and ugly tale.