PIX11.COM- NEW YORK (Reuters) - The trial of two New York
City police officers accused in the rape of an intoxicated
woman they were supposed to be helping opened on Monday in
Manhattan Supreme Court.
NYPD officers Kenneth Moreno and Franklin Mata are charged
with rape, burglary and misconduct in the December 2008
incident.
They had responded to a 911 call placed by a taxi driver
whose fare, an unidentified 27-year-old woman, was found to be
too drunk to exit the cab on her own, authorities said.
A nearby bar's security cameras captured images of Moreno
and Mata helping the woman into her building and then returning
at least twice later that night, authorities said.
Prosecutors allege Moreno raped the passed-out victim as
she lay face down on her bed, after having vomited several
times. They said Mata stood lookout, making him culpable in the
rape.
City police officers accused in the rape of an intoxicated
woman they were supposed to be helping opened on Monday in
Manhattan Supreme Court.
NYPD officers Kenneth Moreno and Franklin Mata are charged
with rape, burglary and misconduct in the December 2008
incident.
They had responded to a 911 call placed by a taxi driver
whose fare, an unidentified 27-year-old woman, was found to be
too drunk to exit the cab on her own, authorities said.
A nearby bar's security cameras captured images of Moreno
and Mata helping the woman into her building and then returning
at least twice later that night, authorities said.
Prosecutors allege Moreno raped the passed-out victim as
she lay face down on her bed, after having vomited several
times. They said Mata stood lookout, making him culpable in the
rape.
The two officers were arrested in April 2009 after the victim secretly taped a conversation with Moreno outside his police precinct, in which he said he wore a condom during the
incident, authorities said.
Moreno's lawyers contend he was merely trying to calm the
victim and keep her from causing a disturbance at the police
station.
His lawyer said Moreno denies raping the woman, and was
simply comforting her because she was upset about drinking too
much. The defense also said she gave him keys so that he could
return later that night.
Moreno's attorneys said the officers returned as the woman
became more sober over time, and the woman gave Moreno her cell
phone number.
The officers face up to 25 years in prison if convicted of
the charges.
(Reporting by Bernd Debusmann Jr.; Editing by Barbara Goldberg
and Jerry Norton)
incident, authorities said.
Moreno's lawyers contend he was merely trying to calm the
victim and keep her from causing a disturbance at the police
station.
His lawyer said Moreno denies raping the woman, and was
simply comforting her because she was upset about drinking too
much. The defense also said she gave him keys so that he could
return later that night.
Moreno's attorneys said the officers returned as the woman
became more sober over time, and the woman gave Moreno her cell
phone number.
The officers face up to 25 years in prison if convicted of
the charges.
(Reporting by Bernd Debusmann Jr.; Editing by Barbara Goldberg
and Jerry Norton)
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