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September 28, 2006

Testimony ends in Roger Williams hospital trial

After nearly three weeks, testimony has concluded in the Roger Williams Medical Center corruption trial.

The defense rested this afternoon at 2:30. Chief U.S. District Judge Ernest C. Torres gave jurors tomorrow off and told them to be back in court Monday morning for closing arguments.

The defense called three witnesses today before resting.

Jennifer DeLuca, who oversaw marketing and public relations for the Village at Elmhurst, testified that she dealt frequently with John Celona in her efforts to publicize the assisted-living center, including appearances by Village personnel on the North Providence senator’s cable-access television show.

The prosecution charges that Celona was hired as a consultant to the Village at Elmhurst, a Roger Williams affiliate, to conceal his true duties as an illicit political operative for defendants Robert A. Urciuoli, Frances P. Driscoll and Peter J. Sangermano Jr.

In her cross-examination of DeLuca, Asst. U.S. Atty. Dulce Donovan tried to show that many of Celona’s activities with the Village were in his role as a politician, not a consultant.

None of the defendants chose to testify. But Sangermano’s wife and business partner in the Village, Diane Sangermano, did take the stand briefly, to say that she had told DeLuca and DeLuca’s predecessor that Celona was being paid to help promote the Village.

-- Mike Stanton, Journal staff writer

Posted by Peter Phipps  at 4:51 PM | Permalink

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