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December 13, 2006

Arguments over Station fire testimony conclude

Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
Alan Goulart of the Attorney General's Office argues today for the release of secret testimony from the grand jury who heard The Station fire case.

PROVIDENCE -- The hearing to determine whether the public can see secret grand jury testimony associated with The Station fire investigation is over.

Lawyers for the Attorney General's Office and the court concluded their arguments late this morning. Superior Court Judge Joseph F. Rodgers Jr. said he would rule on the matter in the next 10 days.

Alan Goulart, head of the attorney general's criminal division, argued that the public might better understand the grand jury's actions if it could see the secret testimony.

Goulart also argued that it wasn't the attorney general's responsibility to keep grand jury testimony secret. "The grand jury is an arm of the Superior Court, not the attorney general. It is the court that is responsible for maintaining the secrecy of the grand jury.''

Larry J. Ritchie, a law professor at Roger Williams University, who was appointed to represent the grand jury, took the opposing view. He said the grand jury needs to be protected from the press. He also said grand jurors might hestitate to speak freely if they thought testimony would become public.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Paul Edward Parker and projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 12:28 PM | Permalink

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