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« May 14, 2008 | Today | May 16, 2008 » May 15, 2008Tonight: Bring your artwork to Cranston for adviceIn Cranston from 7 to 9 tonight, head to an ArtShare, at The Artists’ Exchange, 50 Rolfe St. Bring a finished piece or work in progress to share for inspiration and constructive advice. Call 490-9475. The event is free. Check out projo.com's list art listings. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:56 PM | Comment Photo: Shades of gray at State Police memorial
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:36 PM | Comment Short-term relief fund for Station fire victims closingPROVIDENCE -- A state-managed fund that raised money to help victims of The Station nightclub fire is closing. The Rev. John Holt, chairman of The Station Nightclub Relief Fund, tells WRNI-AM that the charity's work is done. The fund was set up by Governor Carcieri days after the Feb. 20, 2003, fire in West Warwick, which killed 100 people and injured more than 200. The charity was started to help meet the short-term needs of the injured and the families of the victims. It helped pay for things like funeral and travel expenses, and has given out more than $3 million in the five years it's been in existence. Other charities still exist to help fire victims with their needs, including The Station Family Fund. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:03 PM | Comment Mass. Senate backs landmark coastal-protection billBOSTON -- The Massachusetts Senate is unanimously supporting a final version of a landmark bill designed to protect the state's coastal waters. Environmentalists call the bill a first-in-the-nation attempt by a state to create a comprehensive ocean management plan. The bill approved today by the Senate is designed to make sure all decisions and permits about development in state-controlled waters up to three miles from the coast conform to a single plan. The plan would cover everything from whale watching tours to wind farms and liquefied natural gas terminals. Separate versions of the bill had been approved by the House and Senate. The final version now heads back to the House. Gov. Deval Patrick also supports the bill. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:59 PM | Comment Senate backs medical marijuana 'compassion centers'PROVIDENCE -- The state Senate today approved a bill that essentially allows the creation of "compassion centers" that distribute marijuana to patients enrolled in Rhode Island's medical marijuana program However, it does not have broad support in the House and is expected to die there, acknowledged Sen. Rhode Perry, D-Providence, the bill's sponsor. -- With reports from Steve Peoples of the Journal State House Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:41 PM | Comment Update: House OKs criminal case expungement billPROVIDENCE -- The House late today approved a bill to "quash and destroy'' the records of criminal cases in which a criminal was given a "deferred sentence'' in exchange for sparing the state a trial by pleading no contest or guilty to a crime. Th House voted 46 to 17 to support the measure, with no debate. Click here for the roll call on the vote. The bill now goes to the Senate. Unlike the state's current expungement law, the bill the House took up today is not limited to non-violent offenses by first-time offenders. In fact, the Rhode Island Supreme Court decision last November that sparked this latest drive to erase criminal records concerned a man who had pleaded no contest to second-degree robbery and a woman who had pleaded no contest to a drug charge. Both were given deferred sentences. A Superior Court judge -- and then the Supreme Court -- concluded that neither was eligible under the current expungement law: The man because he had commited a violent crime, and the woman because she got into further trouble, which meant she was no longer a first-time offender. The bill would open the door for the immediate destruction of such records after the deferral period -- which usually runs five years -- has ended, regardless of the nature of the crime and the history of the offender. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Almeida, D-Providence, is the latest in a series promoted by prisoner-rights advocates, the criminal defense bar and the public defenders office this year to reach the House floor. More may be coming, including one giving judges the discretion to erase multiple misdemeanors from someone's record. In 2003, The Journal reported Almeida was found guilty of shoving a man who was trying to repossess his girlfriend's car from her driveway in Federal Hill. He was sentenced to one year of probation, 25 hours of community service and ordered to have no contact with the man or his brother. -- With reports from Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:37 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Jury goes home again without verdict
On the second day in which it deliberated -- and the first all-day session -- the jury asked at least two questions today, but lawyers would not disclose what they were. Copies of trial transcripts were taken into chambers for review by the prosecution and defense lawyers in order to answer the jury questions. Bunnell, 24, is charged with her boyfriend at the time, Gilbert Delestre, 27, with fatally beating “T.J.” Wright after the boy, one of five children in the home, made a mess in their living room. They arrived at the Woonsocket apartment around 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2004, to find some milk and yogurt that T.J. had spilled on the floor. Bunnell and Delestre are being tried separately on the same charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. When the jury returned to the courtroom late afternoon, Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia said he had sent a note asking if jurors wanted to continue deliberating today or come back tomorrow, and they indicated tomorrow morning. Read The Journal's coverage of the lawyers' closing arguments yesterday in the case. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:24 PM | Comment House slated to vote on criminal case expungement billPROVIDENCE -- The House is scheduled to vote today on a bill to "quash and destroy'' the records of criminal cases in which an criminal was given a "deferred sentence'' in exchange for sparing the state a trial by pleading no contest or guilty to a crime. Unlike the state's current expungement law, the bill up for a vote today is not limited to non-violent offenses by first-time offenders. In fact, the Rhode Island Supreme Court decision last November that sparked this latest drive to erase criminal records concerned a man who had pleaded no contest to second-degree robbery and a woman who had pleaded no contest to a drug charge. Both were given deferred sentences. A Superior Court judge -- and then the Supreme Court -- concluded that neither was eligible under the current expungement law: The man because he had commited a violent crime, and the woman because she got into further trouble, which meant she was no longer a first-time offender. The bill up for a vote today would open the door for the immediate destruction of such records after the deferral period -- which usually runs five years -- has ended, regardless of the nature of the crime and the history of the offender. After a short-circuited debate earlier this week, lawyer and House Majority Leader Gordon Fox promised to draft an amendment addressing some of the concerns raised by House members. The amendment has not yet been made public. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Almeida, D-Providence, is the latest in a series promoted by prisoner-rights advocates, the criminal defense bar and the public defenders office this year to reach the House floor. More may be coming, including one giving judges the discretion to erase multiple misdemeanors from someone's record. In 2003, The Journal reported Almeida was found guilty of shoving a man who was trying to repossess his girlfriend's car from her driveway in Federal Hill. He was sentenced to one year of probation, 25 hours of community service and ordered to have no contact with the man or his brother. -- Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:49 PM | Comment Update: Lawyers argue appeal in lead paint case / Photo
The stakes in a lawsuit probably never have been higher in Rhode Island. Unless the Supreme Court overrules a jury’s 2006 verdict, the defendant companies may have to spend up to $3 billion to clean up lead paint on some 240,000 houses in Rhode Island. A total of 13 lawyers argued a series of issues before four Supreme Court justices for almost four hours. The judges fired back a barrage of questions, and many suggested they had some doubts about the legal theories that supported the state’s public nuisance case against Sherwin Williams Co., Millennium Holdings and NL Industries. Paint company lawyers argued that the legal arguments used by the state charted new legal territory that is not supported by precedents anywhere. Lawyers for the state said the fact that lead paints have poisoned 36,000 children in Rhode Island and caused vast expenditures by local governments, schools, landlords and parents is common sense proof that the companies created a public nuisance. The arguments were not without some moments of humor. Chief Justice Frank J. Williams warned the lawyers to curb their arguments. “We feel like we’re on the receiving end of a fire hose here,” he said as the proceedings got under way. “Less is more. We know the issues.” The justices are expected to issue a written ruling this summer. The presentation before the state Supreme Court was recessed at 12:49 p.m., after Williams thanked all involved. "This is what the public should see," he said, about how the legal system works. -- Journal Environmental Writer Peter B. Lord, with projo.com reports Posted by Jack Perry at 3:22 PM | Comment Middletown man gets 18 years on child porn chargesPROVIDENCE -- A Middletown man was sentenced today to 18 years in federal prison for producing and possessing child pornography after the mother of the two victims told the judge before the sentence: "Their innocence is gone." Barry Zurybida, 51, received the 220-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Ernest C. Torres, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente. Prosecutor Terrence P. Donnelly said at the plea hearing the government could show that between September 2005 and early 2007 Zurybida occasionally took care of two girls between ages 4 and 7. In January 2007, the girls disclosed that Zurybida had taken photos of them "after directing them to expose their genitals," the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The victims’ mother told Judge Torres, according to the news release, that their innocence was gone, “never to come back, regardless of the amount of therapy sessions we go through. Innocence -- purity -- can never return. It’s gone.” In June, FBI agents and Middletown police said they used a search warrant at Zurybida’s house and seized a computer and a digital camera. Subsequently, a FBI Computer Analysis and Response Team investigation found that the computer’s hard drive contained sexually explicit images of the girls, and that data in the image files linked them to the camera seized in Zurybida’s house. The hard drive also contained child pornography not produced by Zurybida. FBI and police arrested Zurybida at his home in June, and he pleaded guilty in December to two counts of photographing minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and one count of possessing child pornography, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney The 220-month sentence is about three years longer than the minimum required by federal law for Zurybida’s offenses. When he pleaded guilty in December, Zurybida admitted that he had also touched the girls sexually, a factor that enhanced his sentence under federal guidelines. Torres also imposed lifetime court supervision on Zurybida after his release from prison, and set conditions prohibiting his interaction with children and use of the Internet. State child molestation charges are also pending against Zurybida. Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:11 PM | Comment California Supreme Court overturns gay marriage banSAN FRANCISCO -- The California Supreme Court has overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage, paving the way for the state to become the second state in the United States where gay and lesbian residents can marry. Rhode Island does not issue same-sex marriage licenses, but the issue has recently been in spotlight after two women who were married in Massachusetts unsuccessfully tried to get divorced in Family Court. A judge is considering whether to ask the state's Supreme Court if the Superior Court has the authority to grant the couple a divorce. The California justices released their 4-3 decision today, saying that domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage in an opinion written by Chief Justice Ron George. Massachusetts is the only state that allows same-sex marriages. In striking down the ban, the court said, "In contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual's sexual orientation - like a person's race or gender - does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights." -- The Associated Press The cases were brought by the city of San Francisco, two dozen gay and lesbian couples, Equality California and another gay rights group in March 2004 after the court halted San Francisco's monthlong same-sex wedding march that took place at Mayor Gavin Newsom's direction. Outside the courthouse, gay marriage supporters cried and cheered as news spread of the decision. "Today the California Supreme Court took a giant leap to ensure that everybody - not just in the state of California, but throughout the country - will have equal treatment under the law," said City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who argued the case for San Francisco. Posted by Jack Perry at 1:51 PM | Comment CVS trial: Kramer's aide tells of meetings with Celona
Prosecutors are seeking to show that two former executives of the giant CVS drugstore chain, Kramer and co-defendant Carlos Ortiz, bribed influential former state Sen. John Celona when they hired hm as a $1,000-a-month consultant to wield his influence to push Woonsocket-based CVS’s State House legislative agenda. Mary Jane McCusker calmly answered questions from Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch today about more than a dozen exhibits that noted Kramer’s meetings with Celona. McCusker told the court that Kramer enjoyed appearing on Celona’s cable television program. She said that he kept "a drawer-full’’ of videocassettes of himself making televised appearances. "Jack would have copies of the tapes and he would show them in his office,’’ she said, adding that he would invite CVS employees in to watch the tapes with him. Prosecutor Stephen G. Dambruch entered an exhibit showing that CVS had four choice tables for state dignitaries at the June 2002 gala at the Rhode Island Convention Center that preceded the CVS Charity Golf Classic. Celona and his wife, Karleen, were seated at a table with Kramer. At an adjacent table was Tom Ryan, the chief executive officer and the some of the state’s then-most powerful politicians: Senate Majority Leader William V. Irons, House Speaker John B. Harwood and Gerard M. Martineau, the House majority leader. At one point today, the government introduced as an exhibit a letter on CVS stationery that Kramer sent Celona. ``Thank you so much for sending me the tape of our interview,’’ Kramer wrote. ``You are a great friend to CVS. Your new studios are fantastic.’’ The letter was dated June 10, 2002. At the time, CVS was paying Celona as a consultant. McCusker wrapped up her testimony today with some levity. Kramer’s lawyer peppered her with a series of questions asking her whether Kramer ever concealed Celona’s consulting job with CVS or ever lied about the arrangement. She said no. ``Did he ever ask you to lie about anything?’’ lawyer David B. Fein asked. ``Once,’’ McCusker answered. ``What was that?’’ ``His age,’’ she said. Kramer’s families and friends in the courtroom erupted in laughter. McCusker was followed by Betty Bibeault, a longtime CVS employee and former administrative assistant to Ortiz. She is expected to return to the witness stand tomorrow. More on McCusker's testimony this morning. Coverage of yesterday's testimony -- and courthouse power outage. Our continuing report on Operation Dollar Bill. -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski and projo.com staff writer Michael Celona is serving a 2 1/2-year prison term after pleading guilty to selling his office to CVS, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and the Roger Williams Medical Center. Under agreement with prosecutors, Celona is expected to testify as the government’s main witness in the projected four-week trial. The defense argues Celona was hired to promote the drugstore chain’s community image, given his contacts among the elderly and his cable-access television show that often had Kramer as a guest. In February, as part of the ongoing federal Operation Dollar Bill investigation of which the current CVS trial is a part, Martineau was sentenced to three years and a month in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to two felony charges of depriving Rhode Islanders of the right to honest service -- for $891,500 worth of paper-and plastic-bag contracts from the CVS drugstore chain and Blue Cross. At his sentencing, a prosecutor said that Martineau has agreed to testify against Kramer and Ortiz. It is not known whether he will be called as a witness in the trial that is expected to last at least three more weeks. Yesterday, jurors heard some testimony, even with courthouse power interruptions that postponed the trial's resumption to today: notably that Celona in 2002, by then on CVS' payroll for two years, contacted Kramer, who got Celona and his wife tickets to the Chicago-taped Oprah Winfrey Show. McCusker testified yesterday that she took Celona's call and forwarded his request to Kramer. She said Celona wanted to take his wife to the popular show's taping as a Christmas gift. McCusker said Kramer told her to call Lisa Churchville, Rhode Island NBC affiliate Channel 10's general manager -- the channel that broadcasts Oprah. McCusker also testified she met Celona at CVS headquarters for a luncheon meeting with Kramer in summer 1999. Prosecutors say it's during that time period that Celona, Kramer and Ortiz started talking about the senator possibly becoming a CVS consultant. She also testified she later learned Celona was a paid CVS consultant but that nobody told her what he did in that role. Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:35 PM | Comment Update: Bicyclist critical after crash in WarwickWARWICK -- A bicyclist is in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital after colliding with a car yesterday afternoon at Church and Warwick avenues. The bicyclist's name has not been released, pending notification of family, according to the police. According to a preliminary investigation, a 2004 Acura that had been traveling west on Church Avenue was stopped at the intersection of Warwick Avenue shortly before 3 p.m. When the light turned green, the driver began to turn right onto Warwick Avenue when her car was struck by a male riding a bicycle south in the northbound lane of Warwick Avenue, the police said. The bicyclist suffered serious head injuries. The driver of the car was identified as Georgette Sweet, 58, of Smithfield. There was no indication that drugs, alcohol or excessive speed were factors in the crash, the police said. The police ask anyone who witnessed the crash to call them at 468-4343 or 468-4364. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post incorrectly described possible factors in the crash. There were no indications that drugs, alcohol or excessive speed were factors, police said. Posted by Jack Perry at 12:45 PM | Comment R.I. journalists win Metcalf diversity awards
Journal copy editor Stephanie McKenna was among those recognized at the Rhode Island for Community and Justice Metcalf Diversity in the Media Awards. McKenna was commended for her daily community news columns, which report on events in the Cape Verdean/Cape Verdean-American, Southeast Asian/Asian-American, African/African American communities. Established in 1988 to honor the late Michael Metcalf, publisher of The Providence Journal, the honor is one of the premier awards given in the state recognizing professional journalists, media outlets and Internet media for promoting diversity awareness and social justice. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the award. Click below to see who else in Rhode Island media was honored at today's awards ceremony. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Print, Weekly/Bi-weekly: Nancy Kirsch, Jewish Voice & Herald for "Faith: divider or uniter?" Print, Monthly: Gail Braccidiferro, Rhode Island Monthly and Peter Goldberg, photographer for "Pride Street." Print, Special Series: Marion Davis, William Hamilton, Natalie Myers, David Ortiz and Justin Sayles, Providence Business News for: "Women in Business" series Internet: Matt Jerzyk, Rhode Island's Future.org for "Papitto Whistleblowers Punished." Broadcast: Jonny Skye Njie, Ken Swanson, R.I. Department of Education for "Deny No Dream." Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 12:21 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Jury continues deliberatingPROVIDENCE -- Jury deliberations resumed this morning in the trial of Katherine Bunnell, who is charged with murder in the death of 3-year-old Thomas "T.J." Wright. A jury of five men and seven women, which begin deliberating yesterday, returned to Providence County Superior Court shortly after 9:30 a.m. As of 11:30 a.m., no verdict has been reported. A prosecutor could be seen making photocopies of a transcript of testimony. Bunnell's defense lawyer, Gerard H. Donley, said the judge was not permitting lawyers to say whether the jury had asked any questions. Bunnell, 24, is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. She is accused with her then-boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, 27, of beating to death "T.J.," her nephew who was a child in their care, on Oct. 30, 2004, at Bunnell's Woonsocket apartment after they came home from a night out to find a mess on the floor. Read Journal coverage of yesterday's closing arguments in the case. -- With reports from Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:41 AM | Comment CVS Trial: Kramer often met with CelonaPROVIDENCE -- The administrative assistant to former CVS executive John R. “Jack” Kramer spent the morning testifying about entries in her boss’s daybook calendar. Kramer and fellow former CVS executive Carlos Ortiz both face federal bribery charges for allegedly trying to win favor with former state Senator John A. Celona. Mary Jane McCusker calmly answered questions asked by asst. U.S. Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch about more than a dozen exhibits that noted Kramer’s meetings with Celona. The meetings took place at CVS headquarters, on golf courses and in restaurants in Providence. Kramer also bought tickets through CVS to political fundraisers for Celona and gave Celona and Celona’s wife tickets to attend the CVS Charity Golf Classic in Barrington. In a note that included the tickets to John and Karleen Celona, Kramer wrote, “John, going to be a great night.” Kramer’s lawyer, David B. Fein, cross-examined McCusker, pointing out that Kramer had a dizzying calendar filled with social, charitable and political events –– from a Save the Bay Charitable Function with Journal Publisher Howard G. Sutton, to an appearance with Katie Couric on the Today Show to promote a CVS Charity. “He enjoyed it,” McCusker said of Kramer’s action-packed social life. “And he talked about it a lot.” Extra: Our continuing report on Operation Dollar Bill Read Journal coverage of yesterday's testimony and courthouse power outage. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:36 AM | Comment Carcieri's O'Reilly Factor appearance is postponedGovernor Carcieri's appearance on The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News to talk about his executive order cracking down on illegal immigration is being rescheduled by the program, the governor's office said today. Carcieri's interview was scheduled to appear on the program hosted by Bill O'Reilly at 8 and 11 tonight, which will not happen, according to the governor's office. His schedule for today originally had the governor doing the segment between 5:15 p.m. and 6 p.m. for the airings later tonight. No information was yet available on when the appearance will be scheduled. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:21 AM | Comment CVS trial: Kramer's assistant McCuster returns / Photo
Mary Jane McCusker, administrative assistant to John Kramer, arrives at U.S. District Court in Providence with lawyer Jeffrey Pine to continue her testimony in the trial of Kramer and Carlos Ortiz on federal corruption charges stemming from the Operation Dollar Bill investigation into State House corruption. Before the lights went out yesterday, McCusker testified that former state senator John Celona had contacted her about getting tickets for the Oprah Winfrey Show. She also testified that Kramer authorized campaign contributions to Celona in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Extra: Continuing coverage of the CVS trial and Operation Dollar Bill.
Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:15 AM | Comment Sox' Lester pitching free ice coffees in WarwickRed Sox pitcher Jon Lester will be tossing free ice coffees this morning to customers of the Dunkin' Donuts on 1678 Post Road, Warwick. Lester is pitching in on a Dunkin' Donuts promotion that gives customers a free 16-ounce (small) iced coffee from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. at participating shops nationwide. Two customers in Warwick will win a pair of Red Sox tickets each to an upcoming Red Sox home game. Posted by Jack Perry at 10:14 AM | Comment CVS trial: The power is on -- for now at leastSo far this morning the power is on and ready to go at the U.S. District Court in Providence. Yesterday, testimony by several witnesses in the case of two former CVS executives accused of bribing a former state senator was interrupted several times when the power in the courtroom went out. The outage interrupted the testimony of Clark Curtis, a lobbyist who worked on behalf of CVS in 2002 and 2003. Former CVS executives John “Jack” Kramer and Carlos Ortiz are accused of bribing former Sen. John Celona for favorable treatment at the State House. At about 7:50 this morning, a clerk said, power was up and running. Judge Mary Lisi sent everyone home yesterday shortly after noon yesterday, and directed the trial to begin again today at 9. Before Judge Lisi canceled testimony for the day, Mary Jane McCusker, Kramer’s administrative assistant, testified that she got Celona and his wife tickets for The Oprah Winfrey Show. Read the Journal's coverage of Operation Dollar Bill Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 8:23 AM | Comment House Finance to take up school aid todayPROVIDENCE -- The House Finance Committee is slated to hold a hearing today on legislation for a school-aid funding formula. The hearing on a Fair Share Education Funding Formula bill is scheduled at the rise of the House session -- around 6 p.m. -- in Room 35 in the State House basement. The bill's sponsors say it would create a "permanent, equitable and predictable formula for distributing educational dollars to local school districts," according to a news release. The formula would consider the number of public school students in a community and the school needs of those children, "making weighted allowances for low-income children, English-language learners, special-education students and career and technical students." The legislation also would also take into account a community's resources and ability to pay for its schools, the sponsors say. The hearing will be broadcast live on Capitol Television, which can be seen on Channel 15 for Cox Communications and Full Channel cable subscribers and Channel 34 for Verizon subscribers. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 8:17 AM | Comment Mayor Cicilline to field questions in Elmwood tonightResidents of the city’s Elmwood neighborhood can meet with Mayor David Cicilline and other officials tonight at this month's “Mayor’s Night Out.” Cicilline and city department directors will be on hand tonight at 5 p.m. at the Southeast Asian Economic Development Center, 270 Elmwood Ave. Residents can ask questions, share concerns and get feedback on a one-on-one basis –– bus show up early, meetings are on a first-come, first-served basis. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 8:00 AM | Comment Bunnell trial: Jury returns to consider verdictThe jury in the trial of a 24-year-old woman charged with murder for the deadly beating of her 3-year-old nephew is set to resume deliberations today after spending three hours yesterday mulling the case. Prosecutors say Katherine Bunnell dropped Thomas “T.J.” Wright on the floor and beat him after she returned home to find a mess in her Woonsocket apartment. From the stand Tuesday, Bunnell denied the allegations, saying that she lightly slapped the child a few times. Bunnell’s lawyer has suggested that the defendant’s former boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, 27, was actually responsible for the child’s death. Delestre also faces murder charges. His trial is set to begin after Bunnell’s. The child had been placed in their care after Bunnell's sister went to prison. Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia directed the jury to return to Superior Court, Providence, this morning to continue deliberations. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:26 AM | Comment Pats' owner pleased with Herald's apologyFOXBOROUGH, Mass -- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has complimented the Boston Herald for apologizing for a story that said his team videotaped a St. Louis Rams walkthrough before the 2002 Super Bowl. He's "very disappointed," though, that the newspaper "wrote a story that was completely false and unsubstantiated," Kraft said in an interview with The Associated Press. He also said he doesn't know why former New England video assistant Matt Walsh didn't refute the story soon after it came out on Feb. 2, the day before the Patriots lost the Super Bowl to the New York Giants, 17-14, ruining their quest for an unbeaten season. -- The Associated Press "I must compliment the Boston Herald for doing what is unprecedented in terms of recognizing their error in a major way," Kraft said. "I'm really delighted with that, but I wish it never happened." The apology came a day after a meeting between NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Walsh produced no major revelations about the team's taping procedures. "I think I speak for all Patriot fans," Kraft said. "We're relieved that this is over and you see that this is nonsense and we were unfairly accused and we're moving on." Kraft spoke by telephone before Sen. Arlen Specter said in Washington that he wants an independent investigation of the Patriots' taping of opposing coaches' signals similar to the Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. Patriots spokesman Stacey James said the team had no immediate comment on Specter's remarks. Walsh told Goodell he did not tape the walkthrough and had no knowledge that any other Patriots employees did so, Goodell said. The commissioner also indicated he considered the investigation over after meeting with Walsh on Tuesday. "The only thing I don't understand is what he said (Tuesday) he could have said that a long time ago and defused it within 24 hours of the story coming out," Kraft said. "If you read the blogs or read people or talk to people, everyone assumed he was the source or was one step removed from the source. ... You'll have to decide why he waited." Goodell fined coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and the team $250,000 and took away a first-round draft pick this year after an investigation found the Patriots violated league rules by taping New York Jets coaches on the sideline during the season opener. Kraft said he didn't think the investigation that began then would leave a lasting stain on the club. "I was unhappy with what transpired in the fall, the actions of some of our employees, and we were penalized severely for that," he said. "We said back in September that we had disclosed all of our actions as an organization to the league. You can see this is true.' "The erroneous story really led to a second round of inquisitions after September, and it really was a distraction. The sad part (is) that it took away from an 18-0 Super Bowl season." The Herald's story cited unidentified sources. "For 3 1/2 months that story has hung out there like a cloud and we denied it right up front," Kraft said. "When the reporter called Stacey James with the story, he said it's completely false and unsubstantiated." In the apology, published in the newspaper's Wednesday edition and posted on its Web site, the Herald said the story was based on sources "it believed to be credible." "We now know that this report was false, and that no tape of the walkthrough ever existed," the paper wrote. "We should not have published the allegation in the absence of firmer verification. The Boston Herald regrets the damage done to the team by publication of the allegation, and sincerely apologizes to its readers and to the New England Patriots' owners, players, employees and fans for our error." The newspaper featured a front-page headline reading "Sorry, Pats" next to a the Lombardi Trophy that goes to Super Bowl winners. It placed the three-paragraph apology on the back inside page of the newspaper. The backpage headline said, "Our mistake". "I'm glad they stepped up and admitted their error and are doing the best they can to put it behind them," Kraft said. "The fans of the NFL, even if they're not Patriot fans, we want them to respect what we're about, and in this age of media where you have 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all kinds of ways to have information be disseminated, there's people who throw stuff out there that is just false." Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment Today's forecast: Not perfect, but not too badThe morning is starting off mild. It's already 50 degrees at 6:30 and the temperature is set to rise to near 70 degrees as the day goes on. It's cloudy, and should stay that way, but winds will be mild from the south. There's also a slight chance of rain later in the afternoon. Clouds should remain tonight when the temperature drops to about 50 degrees with very calm north winds. Tomorrow we'll likely see increasing clouds and then rain in the late afternoon. The temperature should stay mild, reaching the mid 60s, and calm winds will come from the northeast. To check the latest forecast updates, see projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features an interview with the 19-year-old surfer who was rescued by the Coast Guard after being swept out to sea off Matunuck Tuesday. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006