Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Tatiana Pina
Journal staff writer

PROVIDENCE -- The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Gilbert Delestre, who is accused of beating to death 3-year-old Thomas "T.J." Wright in Woonsocket in 2004.

Deliberations began at 12:30 p.m. in Providence County Superior Court after jurors got instructions from Judge Netti C. Vogel this morning. Lawyers delivered closing arguments yesterday.

Delestre is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy.

Defense lawyer Robert Mann has said Delestre did not intend to kill the child and should not be convicted of murder. He said, as part of closing arguments, that Delestre's actions that night fit a manslaughter charge.

Prosecutors say that on Oct. 30, 2004, Delestre and his then-girlfriend, Katherine Bunnell, beat the child upon returning to their Woonsocket apartment after a night out to find a mess on the living room floor.

The boy was so badly beaten that he was declared brain dead and died the next day.

Babysitter Kayla Roderick testified at trial that Delestre and Bunnell took turns beating T.J. Delestre admitted hitting the boy in the head as they climbed the stairs and that T.J. fell backwards. But Delestre has said he did not intend to kill him.

 Tags  Delestre Gilbert Delestre Katherine Bunnell murder trial Providence R.I. T.J. Wright Thomas J. Wright Woonsocket

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