Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE -- The trial of two former Roger Williams Medical Center executives accused of buying the honest services of former state Sen. John Celona continued today with testimony about a state representative receiving a visit from Celona to discuss legislation affecting the medical center.

Robert Urciuoli, the former president of Roger Williams Medical Center, and a former hospital vice president, Frances Driscoll, are on trial in U.S. District Court, where they are accused of corruptly hiring Celona as a consultant to do their political bidding. The defendants counter that he was hired for legitimate senior-citizen outreach.

This morning jurors heard the testimony of former state Rep. John D. Barr II, D-Lincoln, although Barr was not actually in court. An FBI agent read testimony that Barr had given previously. The jury was not told why Barr did not appear, but he had emergency surgery in late July after suffering chest pains.

In his previous testimony, Barr had said that Celona "spent some time hunting me down" to talk about a bill regarding bone marrow donors that affected Roger Williams Medical Center.

Barr testified that the senator visited him in the House of Represenatives. He said Celona had never before visited the House to discuss a bill with him.

Barr testified that Celona told him he had a constituent who was concerned about the bill, and it was clear the constituent was Roger Williams Medical Center. Barr said he told Celona that the bill was drafted incorrectly and he would hold it for a while.

Also today, R. Kelly Sheridan, a lobbyist for United Healthcare, concluded his testimony.

And Brett Davey, a Roger Williams spokesman, testified briefly. He was asked whether in late 2003 or early 2004 Roger Williams had received inquiries from the press about Celona.

He said he recalled that Katherine Gregg, Journal State House reporter, was the first member of the media to inquire about Celona. He said she called to ask whether Celona had done any lobbying for the hospital.

Davey said he checked with Urciuoli and was told that Celona hadn't.

Read more about yesterday's testimony.

(An earlier version of the story incorrectly referred to Davey as a former spokesman for Roger Williams.)

-- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick

 Tags  Frances Driscoll Robert Urciuoli Roger Williams Medical Center

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