Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Tatiana Pina
Journal staff writer

PROVIDENCE -- The trial for Gilbert Delestre, who is accused of beating 3-year-old Thomas J. Wright to death four years ago, is scheduled to begin today in Providence County Superior Court.

Delestre faces one count of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Judge Netti C. Vogel will hear the case.

Lawyers finished jury selection yesterday, picking 10 women and 4 men who will hear the case. When all evidence is presented, 12 jurors will be selected to determine innocence or guilt.

Prosecutors say that Delestre and his girlfriend, Katherine Bunnell, beat her nephew, Thomas, to death four years ago after they returned to their Woonsocket apartment from a night out and found yogurt and milk he had spilled on the living room floor. Delestre and Bunnell were caring for Thomas and his two brothers in addition to their own two children while Bunnell's sister, Karen Wright, served a prison term in Illinois for marijuana trafficking.

The pair was given separate trials because they each accused the other of inflicting the injuries that killed Thomas. Bunnell, who was charged with murder and conspiracy, was convicted of second-degree murder and conspiracy. She was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole.

 Tags  Delestre Gilbert Delestre jury selection Katherine Bunnell murder trial Providence RI Thomas J. Wright Woonsocket

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