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Rape Cop Trial Stalls As Prosecutor Refuses To Testify
By
John Del Signore
Published May 12, 2011
Modified Sep 9, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published May 12, 2011
Modified Sep 9, 2011
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The judge in the infamous "rape cop" trial is reportedly fuming because the proceedings have ground to a halt over a difficult witness the defense wants to call: Assistant District Attorney Coleen Balbert, who is the lead prosecutor in the case. According to the Post, lawyers for accused rapist Officer Kenneth Moreno and his alleged accomplice want to call Balbert to the stand to grill her on what they say are inconsistencies in her notes from witness interviews. During a meeting in open court, a "visibly frustrated" Justice Gregory Carro lashed out at the defense attorneys.
"You should have just called your witnesses," Caro said to the lawyers, the Post reports. "That would have been faster...This can go back and forth now for what? A couple days?" Caro had hoped to hand the trial over to the jury by the end of the week, but it looks like the trial, which has already lasted six weeks, will grind on through next week at least. Today's dispute hinged on Balbert's refusal to testify about what the notes "meant" when she wrote them. "I'm not willing to do interpretations up there," Balbert told the judge. You tell 'em, Balbert, you're not their monkey!
In a separate article, the Post also notes that when Moreno explained yesterday that he didn't say anything to his partner about what went on in the accuser's bedroom because he "doesn't kiss and tell," the cop's "creepy choice of words prompted murmurs of surprise in the packed courtroom." That's because Moreno swears he didn't have sex with the woman. They just spooned in her bed (he actually said this!) while she wore only a bra. We can only assume that after an edifying discussion about the cultural impact of trade routes during the Han Dynasty, Moreno went on his merry way. Hardly something worth boring his partner about.
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.
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rape cop trial
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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