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May 8, 2008

Bunnell trial: Woman accused in toddler's death sobs

PROVIDENCE -- Katherine Bunnell broke down in the court today, interrupting her trial on child murder charges, as the lead investigator read a statement he took from her just hours after 3-year-old Thomas “T.J.” Wright suffered the injuries that led to his death.

“I can’t, I can’t,” Bunnell said, and started to sob as retired Woonsocket detective sergeant Todd Brien read the question from the statement, “How many times did you hit T.J.?” and her answer, “Twice, I wouldn’t abuse a kid like that.”

Bunnell, 24, is being tried on charges of murder and murder conspiracy. She and her ex-boyfriend, 27-year-old Gilbert Delestre, are accused of fatally beating T.J., a foster child in their care, after they returned home from a night out three and a half years ago and found a mess the toddler had made on their living-room floor.

Bunnell’s lawyer, Gerard H. Donley, tried to calm her down, putting his arm around her shoulder and whispering to her. But she continued to sob, and Donley asked for a recess.

Judge Gilbert V. Indgelia admonished Bunnell when court reconvened.

“I do not in any way want to see a situation where you cannot fully participate in your trial,” Indeglia told Bunnell while the jury was out of the courtroom.

However, if there are further outbursts, Indeglia said he would have to consider the alternatives, “including having to remove you from the courtroom.”

“You understand what I’m saying?” the judge asked.

“Yes,” Bunnell answered tearfully.

At that point, testimony resumed.

Read about testimony from earlier today, when the teenager who had been babysitting T.J. that night took the stand to tell what she saw.

-- Journal staff writer John Castellucci

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 5:11 PM | Permalink

Comments

mdb | May 8, 2008 6:44 PM link

Bob Plumer | May 10, 2008 9:56 AM link

Too late to cry over spilt milk | May 12, 2008 8:40 AM link

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