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Video Shown In Rape Cop Trial, Accuser Described As "Devastated," "Intoxicated"
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 8, 2011
Modified Sep 9, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 8, 2011
Modified Sep 9, 2011
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The trial of two East Village police officers accused of raping a drunk woman they were asked to help continued yesterday with testimony as well as surveillance footage showing the cops and victim enter the building. The Post reports, "The bulk of the video is hugely incriminating, showing accused rapist Officer Kenneth Moreno and accused lookout Officer Franklin Mata making three return trips to the drunken woman's apartment over the course of five hours," but the NY Times notes, "The woman briskly bounds toward a door, making a brief half-turn and gesturing to the police officer just behind her. A few steps back, another officer follows."
In December 2008, the woman had been celebrating a promotion at Southpaw in Brooklyn and was assisted into a taxi back to Manhattan; she threw up twice in her cab and the driver called 911 for help. The defense, which denies that Moreno raped her (he allegedly just kissed her shoulder), hopes to prove that the accuser was not that drunk because she is seen in the video walking without assistance, but a man Andom Mangum who was visiting her building testified, "She seemed intoxicated [due to] her appearance. The way she's walking. The way her heels sounded. Her heels were sliding on the floor, on the marble. Her hair was in her face." Mangum did admit she was able to walk up the stairs by herself.
The woman's friend and boss Julie Kreling also testified that she got a call the day after the alleged rape, called her "devastated," and explaining, "She was extremely broken down and emotional and crying. She said she had been raped and it was a cop. She was still very much in a state of shock." Moreno's lawyer asked Kreling if the accuser said, "I can't believe he left me like that," which Kreling confirmed, "She said that multiple times. She was in a very vulnerable state and [was] left as somebody who was hurt."
Kreling went to the hospital where the woman was and it was decided the police would not be called: According to WCBS 2, "The now 27-year-old woman, worrying that if she called 911 the officers would find out, instead reported the incident to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office." As part of the investigation, the woman confronted Moreno after the alleged incident, getting him to admit on her secret recording, "Yes, I did [wear a condom]. You don’t have to worry about any diseases or getting pregnant," but the defense claims Moreno said that so she wouldn't make a scene at the precinct. The woman, who moved to San Francisco, is expected to testify on Monday.
Update (9/9/11): Gothamist has published a long-form feature about the Rape Cop case, written by one of the jurors. It takes you behind the scenes during their deliberations, and explains how they came to their controversial verdict. Buy it today as a PDF or on Kindle.
Tagged
drunk
east village
franklin mata
intoxicated
kenneth moreno
rape
rape cops
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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