Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A verdict is expected this afternoon in the Nicholas Gianquitti murder trial.

Superior Court Judge Robert D. Krause has called for the lawyers.

The jury had resumed its deliberations earlier this afternoon after breaking for lunch at 12:30 p.m.

Gianquitti was brought into the courtroom at 2:44 p.m.

James Pagano's widow, Adriana, is crying. Her relatives are gathering around her trying to comfort her.

Earlier Wednesday, Judge Krause briefly interrupted his morning case log at 10 a.m. to take a note from the jury, which had entered its second day of deliberations.

Krause did not comment on what the note said, but apologized for the interruption to lawyers for another case that was being heard, noting he would have to address the note.

Gianquitti, 40, of 16 Daisy Court in Cranston, was charged with the fatal shooting of his next door neighbor, James Pagano, a Cranston fire lieutenant.

The two had argued over the manner in which Gianquitti had spoken to Pagano's children and nephews when the children hit Gianquitti's car as they played baseball on the Cranston cul-de-sac.

Gianquitti, who briefly served as a Providence police officer before retiring on disability, has said he shot Pagano because he feared for his life as Pagano charged into his house.

Pagano, a Cranston fire lieutenant, died from a single gunshot to the torso, according to autopsy results. Dr. Alexander Chirkov, the state's assistant medical examiner, who conducted the autopsy, testified last week that the bullet entered through Pagano's lower back and traveled at a 45-degree angle, tearing through Pagano's aorta, pancreas and liver.

Gianquitti was indicted by a grand jury last August on charges of murder and discharging a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. He has been held at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston since his arrest.

Earlier versions of this story were posted at 10:58 a.m., 12:58 p.m., 1:58 p.m. and 2:34 p.m.

The Providence Journal is covering the trial live from Judge Krause's courtroom. Get the latest blog posts from the trial.

Extra: Our continuing report on the shooting of Lt. James Pagano.

 Tags  Cranston RI Gianquitti James Pagano Judge Krause murder trial Nicholas Gianquitti Providence RI

Comments

norma stits said:

unoh...hung jury???????

Link | April 1, 2009 11:07 AM
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karen said:

The jury almost always has a question. This is not a case where they are going to come back in 5 minutes with a verdict. There is a lot of evidence in the case and it needs to be sorted out.

Link | April 1, 2009 1:23 PM
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Westway77 said:

They probably need clarification on the conviction options.

Link | April 1, 2009 1:47 PM
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