By Charlie Brennan, Rocky Mountain News
June 28, 2004

The most recent major investigation on which Doug Winters served as lead detective before Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case was a murder trial in which the defendant was found not guilty.

Nevertheless, the defense attorney in that proceeding had praise for the Eagle County sheriff's detective - and one small criticism.

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"This is someone who does not seize on that individual's guilt as sacred doctrine and hold on to it like a pit bull, regardless of subsequent facts learned," said Denver defense lawyer Scott Robinson.

"Doug Winters really is honest to a fault. And because he is, I think, very bright and very dedicated, the fact that he may not be as experienced as some investigators is something he can overcome."

Robinson defended Kathleen Denson, who was acquitted in Eagle County District Court last summer of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the June 27, 2002, fatal shooting of her ex-boyfriend, Gerald "Cody" Boyd.

Her defense was that she had indeed killed him, but that she did so only to defend herself against a man who was high on cocaine, threatening violence and trying to extort money from Denson, owner of two fur retailers in Vail and another in Aspen.

A palm print was found on the .44-caliber handgun that Denson had bought for Boyd as a gift, but ended up being used to kill him. The palm print was never identified. Investigators hadn't taken Boyd's prints at his autopsy, so it will never be known if the print was his.

"It did not affect the outcome of this case, but I just think it was embarrassing to him," Robinson said.

Winters, according to Robinson, "told me he wouldn't do it again. Next time, he'll get that palm print."

Winters said he has no regrets about the Denson case, one of two murder investigations in which he has served as lead detective.

"That was a bit of a tough case to even begin with," said Winters. "There was a lack of witnesses. And it was a dispute between boyfriend and girlfriend, and it was really complex.

"I'm not looking back. To this day, I feel we did the right thing. We did our part and that's all we can do. We did our jobs."

Copyright 2004, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.