Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Katie Mulvaney
Journal staff writer

The trial date for the Barrington teenager accused of striking and killing his friend with a boat on the Barrington River has been postponed to March 17 to give defense lawyers more time to prepare, according to the R.I. attorney general's office.

Ryan A. Greenberg, 18, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, reckless boating with death resulting, underage possession of alcohol, and refusal to submit to a chemical test. The trial had been slated to proceed next month in Providence County Superior Court.

Michael J. Healey, spokesman for the attorney general, said the attorney general's office, the court and the defense team had agreed to continue the trial date to allow additional preparation time for the defense.

"Because one of our biggest responsibilities is ensuring that defendants get the fair trial they're entitled to, and part of ensuring a fair trial is giving defendants enough time to prepare, we agreed to the continuance," Healey said.

Authorities say Greenberg was at the wheel of a motorboat July 17, 2007, when it struck and killed 17-year-old Patrick Murphy, who had been kneeboarding behind the boat. Greenberg was 17 at the time, but a Family Court judge waived jurisdiction over him, clearing the way for him to be tried as an adult in Superior Court.

 Tags  Barrington Patrick Murphy

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