News: NYPD Cops’ Trial Goes to Jury
(Long Island, N.Y.) Jury deliberation began this week in the trial for the two New York City police officers involved with accusations of raping a twenty-nine-year-old woman. The incident occurred in December of 2008 and has resulted in a seven-week-long trial. No physical evidence has been implemented against the officers; therefore the jury will be left to determine which story to believe.
Both officers maintain that nothing happened; one is accused of being a lookout for the other. Reports stated that both have attempted to take the stand in their defense. The twenty-nine-year-old fashion executive has also made a testimony, which lasted over a three-day period, claiming that she was certain of the rape.
It’s possible that the officers testified in response to the woman’s detailed account of the night in question. Over the course of the trial, the prosecution allegedly called thirty-five witnesses and the jury was presented with over two hundred exhibits of evidence. The officer’s defense attorney claims that none of the exhibits proved rape and that a reasonable doubt exists in regard to his client.
Proof is needed in order for a jury to convict the officers on conspiring to commit rape under a criminal statue. This type of charge requires indication that the woman was too drunk or helpless to consent. Closing arguments in the trial lasted for multiple days, and the defense lawyer’s summation spanned the course of four hours.
The incident occurred when the woman was taken home by a taxi driver from a Park Slope bar. The officers were called to escort her out of the cab after the driver claimed she was too drunk to assist herself. Security cameras from that evening show the officers making at least three visits within a five hour period. Reports stated that one of the officers admitted to making a false emergency call in order to remain in the area.
A police dispatcher specialist testified that the officers ignored high-priority calls during the time of the incident; one was for a screaming woman and the other was a report of a dead body. The officer accused of rape claims that the woman requested he check up on her, gave him her keys, and inspired him to council her on alcohol abuse. He also claims that she came on to him, asked him to come into bed while wearing a bra, and attempted to kiss him.
The officer admitted that he smelled the alcohol and vomit on her breath, and that he kissed her on the forehead despite feeling uncomfortable with her advances. Reports stated that his partner admitted to falling asleep for a half-hour while the officer was with the woman in her bedroom. While the defense argued that the woman’s memory was unreliable, the officer admitted to cuddling and comforting the woman, but says he backed away from anything sexual.
The jury consists of five women and seven men who were unable to return a verdict after the first day of deliberation. If convicted, the officers face a maximum sentence of twenty-five years.
