Proulx trial: Defense rests; closing arguments Monday
2:34 PM Fri, Mar 27, 2009 | Permalink
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The defense rested its case Friday afternoon in the assault trial of James D. Proulx, who is accused of striking and critically injuring an off-duty state trooper during a confrontation in downtown Providence in the early hours of June 16, 2007. Closing arguments are scheduled for Monday morning. The state has accused Proulx of an unprovoked attack on off-duty State Trooper Brendan R. Doyle, who was trying to stop Proulx after Doyle had seen him driving erratically through downtown Providence shortly after 2 a.m. Proulx, 38, testified Friday morning he struck Doyle (left, listening to testimony) in self-defense, not believing Doyle was a trooper when, he said, Doyle accosted him in his car while it was stopped at the intersection of Pine and Dorrance streets.
"The guy said he was a trooper," Proulx said. "I didn't believe he was a trooper." Proulx said he struck Doyle after the trooper grabbed his arms, and he managed to break free of Doyle's grasp. Proulx said he then got back in his car and fled. Proulx's account of the confrontation differs from versions provided by other witnesses, including two of Doyle's friends who were with him that night, a Providence police officer, and a valet parking attendant working for a nearby restaurant. Doyle's friends testified that after an initial struggle with Doyle, Proulx drove his car across the intersection of Dorrance and Pine streets, stopped the car, got out, walked 15 to 20 feet to Doyle and struck him. Proulx denied there was any interval between his first struggle with Doyle and the punch and said that he punched Doyle to end the initial confrontation and get away. The blow knocked Doyle to the ground and his head hit the pavement with such force that the impact fractured his skull and caused the formation of a blood clot that the neurosurgeon who treated him, Dr. Deus Cielo, said nearly killed Doyle.
Cielo testified Friday morning he had to remove a large piece of Doyle's skull to relieve the swelling of the brain. Had the swelling been left untreated, Cielo said, it would have killed the trooper. "He was moribund, meaning he was about to die, essentially," Cielo said. Doyle has since recovered from his injuries and after a year of physical therapy, returned to duty as a state trooper in June 2008. Cielo described Doyle's recovery as "miraculous". Associate Justice Gilbert V. Indeglia recessed to lunch during Proulx's cross-examination by Assistant Attorney General Stacey Veroni. Under cross-examination, Proulx conceded he was speeding through pedestrian-crowded streets shortly before the incident, estimating he went 40 mph. in 25 mph. zones and that he lost control of the car as he made a sharp left turn from Peck Street onto Pine Street. It was that left turn and Proulx's erratic driving that attracted Doyle's attention and caused him to give chase. The original version of this posting, "Defendant testifies, claims self-defense," was filed at 1:30 p.m. From the 7to7 Blog: Read more posts from the Proulx trial. Extra: Watch a 2007 projo.com multimedia slideshow narrated by Brendan Doyle. 
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Lets see here. The dude punched the guy in the face, the trooper fell and hit his head. He did not die and the last time I looked, he didn't have any intent to kill the trooper. I'm not saying this defendant is a good guy, but the most he can get IMO is, battery and disorderly conduct. If this was a regular person it wouldn't be in the papers. The trooper was drinking and had know right doing what he did. Why do you people want this guy in jail for life? Because he has anger issues? You liberals in this state make me sick. He does not deserve life and will not come close to getting it.
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Bad things happen at 2 am in the city when Bars are clearing out. The guy was definetly driving like a real jerk and talking tough. Two guys are running up to his car and its a convertible theres not much protection there. Why didnt he show his badge especially when asked for it.The off duty cop was out drinkin and the Dr. who testified said his Blood alcohol was .167! Is it ok for highly intoxited police to be running around the city chasing bad guys?
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