People and defense rest in "Flaco" trial; Closing arguments Wednesday
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By JOLEEN FERRIS
Story Created:
Mar 18, 2008 at 3:46 PM EST
Story Updated:
Mar 18, 2008 at 4:09 PM EST
UTICA - The people and the defense have rested in the murder trial of Wesley Molina-Cirino, also known as "Flaco."
Cirino is accused of shooting Utica Police Officer Thomas Lindsey shortly after the officer pulled over a car on April 12 of last year. Before the prosecution rested this afternoon, both sides spent a long time questioning State Police Investigator Samuel Serrano, a Puerto Rican officer who translated two police interviews of Cirino.
One of those interviews took place in Onondaga County - where Cirino was being held on an unrelated charge. The other interview took place at the Utica Police Station. Both were videotaped and we saw clips of both interviews in court today.
Asked about the defendant's intelligence level, Investigator Serrano said Wesley Molina Cirino "wasn't book smart, but street smart." The defense asked how many times throughout the interviews Cirino told police, "I didn't do it."
"How many times would you estimate in the course of the interview that he told you either it wasn't him or he didn't do it?" Serrano was asked.
"He said that quite a bit," Serrano answered.
"Would it be fair to say it was more than 100?" Serrano was again asked.
"I think so, yes," Serrano said.
Serrano also testified that it was Wesley Molina-Cirino who repeatedly asked for a polygraph and offered his DNA to police. Neither were obtained. Serrano also said it's common for suspects in criminal cases to ask for these things.
Closing arguments begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning.
