Attorneys are arguing over what topics can be covered during an upcoming murder trial for a Dubuque man. 61 year old Mark Fishler is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 80 year old Berniece Williamson of Dubuque. On July 15th, 2021, Williamson’s niece and Fishler’s girlfriend, Kathleen McCarthy, asked a neighbor to check on Williamson after not hearing from her for a day. A report says the neighbor found Williamson dead in her residence, lying just inside her back door with a roll of carpet over her head. An autopsy found Williamson’s cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma injuries to her head and that the manner of death was homicide. Fishler told officers that he visited Williamson’s residence July 14th to fix a leaky faucet. Surveillance footage showed no other activity at the residence after Fishler left. Police also reported that the shoes Fishler was wearing July 14th were later located at Key City Recycling, where an employee reported seeing Fishler put them in a box. The shoes contained multiple small dried red droplets, consistent with blood. Fishler’s attorneys have asked that Williamson not be referred to as a “victim” during the trial. Prosecutors object to the request not to refer to Williamson as a victim.
