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February 19, 2008

Oster trial: Defense finishes closing arguments

PROVIDENCE -- The defense made its closing arguments this morning in the bribery and conspiracy trial of former Lincoln Town Adminstrator Jonathan F. Oster.

Defense lawyer C. Leonard O'Brien, in a slightly more than hour-long presentation in Providence County Superior Court, argued today that his client was guilty of poor judgment in choice of friends but not of bribery and conspiracy.

O'Brien repeatedly pointed out places where he said the state had failed to connect with Oster the efforts of Robert R. Picerno, a former Lincoln Planning Board member and Oster political ally, to solicit bribes.

Picerno pleaded no contest into 2004 to bribery and conspiracy.

Oster, who served as town administrator from 2000 to 2002, has been on trial for two counts of bribery and two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with what the state says were two efforts to extort bribes from potential buyers of town-controlled land on Route 116 known as the H&H Screw Co. property. The state's accusations are that Oster and Picerno conspired to sell the land for $105,000, an amount far lower than what the state said it was worth.

O'Brien claimed in court today that the state failed to keep the promises it made in its opening statements in the case. O'Brien pointed out testimony that indicated that because of hazardous waste dumped on the property, the land was worth far less than $105,000. And rather than being a favor to buyer, a $105,000 price would have been a bargain for the town, the argument goes.

O'Brien hammered away at what he called the state's reliance on recordings of Picerno and the targets of the bribe efforts. He told the jury that the state police were so focused on indicating his client they were willing to overlook Picerno's untrustworthiness.

"They trusted Picerno," said O'Brien, "you can't trust Picerno."

Read about the final day of case testimony.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer John Hill

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 12:00 PM | Permalink

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