Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

He said that Botas struck him "more than 30 times,'' in the head with a phone book, while Viveiros broke Ramen noodle soup packets over his head. (Gonzalez was being questioned about having too many packets of soup stored in his living quarters, a possible violation of prison rules.)

At one point, Gonzalez testified that Botas ordered him to strip naked and he threatened to sodomize him if he didn't answer questions about drugs, gangs and prison contraband. He said that he was ordered to bend over and the guards laughed and made a mockery of a birth mark on his back side.

Philbin said that Gonzalez, who broke down and sobbed during the trial, cried several times during the interview at the prison.

The alleged abuse of Gonzalez took place on Feb. 14, eight days before Philbin met with him. Still, the detective testified that there was still evidence of a split lower lip and bruises on his right bicep that he claimed were inflicted by the guards.

During direct examination, Philbin told prosecutor Molly K. Cote that a few days after the Gonzalez interview, Botas and Viveiros came to state police headquarters for interviews.

There, he said, Botas told him that the packets of soup were in a bag in his office, while Viveiros, in a separate interview, told him the open soup was strewn across the floor.
(Gonzalez testified this week that Botas ordered him to clean up the mess before he was sent to LOAP -- loss of all privileges, a segregation unit in the prison.)

Philbin also testified that over the past three years no correctional officers have come forward with information that could help Botas or Viveiros. He said that if he could provide an investigator with a statement that could help a fellow trooper in trouble that he would be "first in line.''

John Lynch Jr., Botas's lawyer, gently cross-examined Philbin on why he didn't interview several others, including staff in the prison infirmary, about Gonzalez's injuries. He also asked him details about statements that other state police investigators had gleaned from the inmates.

In the afternoon, Delo Davis, a burglar and former inmate, testified about a conversation he had with Romano on Jan. 30, 2006, the day that he was allegedly abused. He corroborated Romano's testimony that Botas broke a clip board over the back of his neck and "smacked'' him.

Davis said that Romano told him about it in "the bubble,'' a holding area for inmates in minimum security. He said that it was the first time that he had ever spoken to Romano, who was rattled and had a red mark near his right eye.

"I don't think it's right that they beat me like that over a phone number I had in my pocket,'' said Davis, remembering what Romano had told him.

Romano had testified that the guards questioned him about a phone number that was discovered in his shirt pocket.

After the alleged beatings, Davis said that he told Romano that he was there for him.
"If you need me, I'll be a witness for you,'' he said.