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June 15, 2006

Man convicted in murder-robbery gets 2 life sentences

PROVIDENCE -- Superior Court Judge Patricia A. Hurst today sentenced Kendall Whitaker to two consecutive life sentences for the 2002 murder and robbery of Joel Jackson.

The investigation into the murder was led by the late Providence police Detective Sgt. James L. Allen, who was killed at police headquarters last year. The suspect in Allen's murder, Esteban Carpio, is on trial now.

"Today's sentencing results from what is most likely the last major prosecution of an investigation headed by Detective Allen," Attorney General Patrick Lynch said in a statement. "It's a fitting tribute to Jimmy Allen's outstanding attributes, both as an officer of the law and a human being, that this brutal murderer has been brought to justice."

More than a dozen witnesses testified during the month-long trial before convicting Whitaker last October. Whitaker, of Providence, who was 18 at the time of Jackson's murder, did not take the stand.

Jackson, 19, was the brother of 12-year-old Jermaine Ellis, who was shot and killed at the Chad Brown Housing Development just a few months before Jackson's killing.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:30 PM | Comment

Update: Prosecution concludes case in Carpio trial / Photo

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman
Dr. Elizabeth Laposata, former state medical examiner, describes the path of a bullet that entered the forehead of Detective Sgt. James L. Allen.

PROVIDENCE -- The prosecution today rested what the judge calls its "case in chief" in the murder trial of Esteban Carpio with testimony from the state medical examiner.

The defense will now present evidence to support its position that Carpio was not responsible for killing Detective Sgt. James L. Allen. After the defense makes its case that Carpio is innocent by reason of insanity, the prosecution will have a chance to present additional evidence.

In testimony today, Dr. Elizabeth Laposata, the former state medical examiner, said one likely scenario was that Allen was slightly bent forward when he was shot. Both bullets entered the body at a downward angle.

She said one bullet struck his forehead and lodged in his spine. The second hit him in the sternum, went through his aorta, lung and lodged in his back.

-- By staff writer Gregory Smith

In earlier testimony, Robert A. Hathaway, a firearms examiner, demonstrated the gun that killed Allen as he was interviewing Carpio at police headquarters last year.

Hathaway, who works for the state crime lab, also said that the three bullets and eight cartridge casings recovered from Allen's body and the conference room all came from the detective's revolver.

Hathaway left the witness stand at one point in his testimony to demonstate how Allen's gun worked for the jury. He fired the empty gun several times in court.

Later, at the request of Carpio's lawyer, Robert L. Sheketoff, Hathaway fired the gun three times rapidly, duplicating the way Carpio allegedly shot Allen.

Earlier today, Providence Detective Patricia Cornell discussed blood splattered on the wall and the back of the door in the conference room.

-- By Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Peter Phipps at 5:05 PM | Comment

Supreme Court: Lynch may not have to pay fine

PROVIDENCE -- The state Supreme Court ruled today that Attorney General Patrick Lynch may not have to pay $15,000 in fines levied against him by a Superior Court judge during the lead-paint trial.

Judge Michael A. Silverstein Lynch twice found Lynch in contempt of court rules prohibiting lawyers from publicly criticizing each other during this year's trial. The judge ordered Lynch to pay $15,000 using personal funds.

In its order today, the Supreme Court stayed Silverstein's contempt order, suggesting that his instructions to attorneys may have constituted prior restraint, which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled violates the First Amendment of the Constitution.

"Without definitively passing upon the issue at this time, we are troubled by the apparent 'prior restraint' effect of that order," reads the Supreme Court decision. "Accordingly, being acutely mindful of our legal tradition of opting in favor of permitting the exercise of free speech rights except in truly unusual circumstances, we have concluded that the order in question should be stayed pending final resolution by this court."

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:00 PM | Comment

Fire update: 3 victims identified; the scene at the hall / Photo

FALL RIVER, Mass. -- A crowd had gathered inside the Portuguese social club to say a group prayer last night when the hall erupted in flames.

About 30 people were preparing to say the Rosary inside the County Street club when someone toppled a lit candle into the morass of paper decorations meant to celebrate an upcoming feast of the Holy Ghost.

White paper roses, streamers and paper crowns filled about half the hall. Even the ceiling was covered with blue paper to represent the sky.

Today, mourners have scattered red roses at a door to the club, as a tribute to the four women who died and others who were injured in the blaze.

Family members in Fall River today identified three of the victims: Christine Costa, 31, Emiliana Carvalho, 80, and Isabel Raposa, who family members believed was 67. The fourth victim has not been identified.

For more, read the continuing story on projo.com, with photos and audio, and in tomorrow's Journal ...

-- With reports from Journal staff writers Paul Edward Parker, Maria Armental, and C. Eugene Emery Journal Photo/Frieda Squires

Twelve people were hurt in the fire, including two firefighters, officials said at press conference this morning.Three suffered critical injuries, according to Fire Chief David Thiboutot. Two are in Rhode Island Hospital and the third is in Hasbro Children's Hospital, he said.

The firefighters have been treated and released.

The 220 County St. club, housed on the first floor of a triple-decker building, had no license that would have required inspections by the Fire Department, officials said at a press conference this morning.

In the absence of a liquor or other licenses, "there was nothing to trigger an inspection," Thiboutot said. The question of inspections was among the many issues raised in the aftermath of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, R.I., that killed 100 people in February 2003.

The chief reiterated that the fire apparently was caused when lit candles ignited paper decorations that had been put up throughout the club for a religious feast this weekend.

State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan called the fast-moving fire a "wake-up" call, and said he's urging fire chiefs throughout the state to inform operators of such clubs about the danger of open flames and flammable decorations.

"A combination of candles and flammable decorations are at times a recipe for tragedy and disaster as we saw last night," said Coan said.

He said he didn't want to curb religious ceremonies, just educate people about safety.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Blackened siding and a fire truck were among the signs this morning of the blaze that killed four people last night in the St. John's Holy Ghost Association club on the first floor of this triple-decker building at 220 County St. Apartments are above the club.

The scene outside the charred, three-story building on County Street was quiet this morning. A partly blackened St. John's Holy Ghost Association Inc. sign hung over the street.

Maria DeCosta, who lives in an apartment on the third floor, said she escaped through heavy smoke with her two children.

She felt her floor shake, looked out the window and saw "flames everywhere." She pushed her children out in front of her and down a stairway, unable to see because of the smoke.

Outside, she saw people breaking windows from the inside outside, trying to escape the building.

Other neighbors were looking at the building this morning and talking quietly. Several said that they don't use candles in their homes because of their fear of fire.

Witnesses told investigators that a votive candle accidentally ignited a ceremonial paper tree, according to Bristol County District Attorney Paul F. Walsh Jr.

-- With reports from Journal columnist Bob Kerr and projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:50 PM | Comment

W. Warwick man gets 30 years for hiring hitman to kill wife

WARWICK -- Thomas J. Lewis was sentenced this afternoon to 30 years in prison, six months after admitting he hired a former drug addict to kill his wife.

Lewis had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in exchange for a prison term of no more than 35 years, then tried to retract his plea. Today in Superior Court, Judge Melanie Wilk Thunberg gave Lewis five years less than the maximum.

Lewis, 44, of West Warwick admitted in January that he hired Thomas M. Kenna, a former drug addict from Arizona, to kill his wife, Kris Sao Bento. Kenna tried unsuccessfully to commit the crime in July 2004 with a hammer.

Kenna has also pleaded guilty in the same deal offered to Lewis. Kenna is scheduled to be sentenced later in the month.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:35 PM | Comment

Police charge father and two others with murder

PROVIDENCE -- Providence police today charged three people with murder for their part in shootings that left one man dead and another seriously wounded.

The police allege the father and friends of 18-year-old Neffi Crisostomo, who was shot yesterday on Brackett Street at around 11 a.m., later shot and killed a 20-year-old man.

Police said that Neffi's father, Ramon Crisostomo, 60, of 11 Balcom St., believed that Richard Perez, 20, was responsible for shooting his son. Within an hour, Ramon Crisostomo had gathered two of his son's friends to look for Perez in the neighborhood.

Within an hour they spotted him riding a bike on Hamilton Street, according to police. Ramon Crisostomo and a 17-year-old boy pulled up to Perez and shot him several times, the police said. The third man was not in the car.

Perez died later at the hospital. Police said today they believe that Perez was indeed the man who shot the younger Crisostomo earlier that day.

Using a description of the vehicle from witnesses, police located Crisostomo's car early yesterday afternoon and arrested him, the juvenile, and 18-year-old Edward Luna, of 95 Emerson St., Providence. Police said they recovered the murder weapon at a nearby home.

All three were charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Ramon Crisostomo was additionally charged with possession of a firearm without a license, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and a drive-by shooting.

The three are being held without bail their arraignment this afternoon in District Court.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Richard C. Dujardin

Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:58 PM | Comment

Car crash in Tiverton

TIVERTON – Police and fire crews have responded to a possible rollover accident on Route 24 southbound in the area of Eagleville Road.

Further details aren't immediately available. No police officer is available to talk at this time, according to a dispatcher. Fire Chief Robert Lloyd is at the accident and unavailable to talk at this time, according to the fire department.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:17 PM | Comment

Mass. trooper killed in crash on Rt. 495, Wrentham

WRENTHAM, Mass. -- A Massachusetts State Police trooper was killed early today when his cruiser drifted into the breakdown lane of Interstate 495 and struck a parked dump truck.

Trooper Paul Barry, a 39-year-old father of seven children, died from injuries in the crash, which occurred before sunrise in Wrentham.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:04 PM | Comment

Cicilline taps Democratic official to head commission

PROVIDENCE -- Mayor David N. Cicilline announced today the hiring of a new executive director for the city's Human Relations Commission.

Melba Depena will lead the agency, which is responsible for investigating complaints of alleged housing and employment discrimination, and promoting social justice through advocacy, training and education.

Depena, a University of Rhode Island graduate, previously worked in social services. But most recently, she served as the executive director of the Rhode Island Democratic Party.

“I am thrilled that the Commission has selected me as its new executive director,” Depena said in a statement. “I will work diligently to ensure that the residents of Providence feel that they are treated fairly and justly.”

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:58 PM | Comment

Red Sox swap relief pitchers

The Boston Red Sox, following three straight implosions by their bullpen, have traded reliever David Riske to the Chicago White Sox for another reliever, 28-year-old left-hander Javier Lopez. It has been known that the Red Sox were interested in acquiring Lopez. The team actually selected Lopez in the 2002 Rule V player draft, but he was traded to the Colorado Rockies before ever playing in a Red Sox uniform.

Lopez has appeared in 171 major league games with the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks, posting a 6.09 E.R.A. He has pitched well this season with the White Sox' Triple A team in Charlotte, going 2-1 with 12 saves and a 0.55 E.R.A. The Associated press reports that Lopez is likely to be in uniform when the Red Sox play the Minnesota Twins tonight.

Riske, a 29-year-old right-hander, joined the Red Sox this past offseason and has seen limited time because of injury problems. He came from Cleveland as part of the trade that also brought Coco Crisp and Josh Bard to town. Bard has since departed in yet another trade.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:47 PM | Comment

Ex-teacher who faked cancer gets two years in prison

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- A former special education teacher who faked cancer and collected $37,000 in donations, which she later spent on a vacation and jewelry, was sentenced today to two years behind bars.

Heather Faria, 27, of Dighton, also was sentenced to eight years of probation during a hearing in New Bedford Superior Court, according to Lisa Leonard, a spokeswoman for Bristol District Attorney Paul Walsh.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 1:32 PM | Comment

West Warwick principal retires

West Warwick High School Principal Cheryl Tutalo is retiring. The School Committee is expected to announce a replacement at a special meeting next week.

-- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:31 PM | Comment

Brown introduces new head basketball coach

Brown University welcomed its new head basketball coach, Craig Robinson, at a news conference today in the university gym.

Robinson, 44, a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year in the early 1980s at Princeton, had been an assistant coach at Northwestern University before being tapped for the Brown job. His brother-in-law is Democratic Congressman Barack Obama of Illinois.

Brown athletic director Michael Goldberger said Robinson fit the school's three requirements for a new coach: integrity, ability to balance athletics and academics, and leadership abilities, according to the Associated Press.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:06 AM | Comment

Goodbye, Alberto

Small craft warnings. Gale flags flying off much of the Massachusetts coast. And this afternoon, a chance of showers and thunderstorms across Rhode Island.

It's the hurricane season and the National Weather Service says Southern New England will be buffeted today by Alberto as it curls out to sea and dies.

With Alberto gone, the weather will improve. Skies will clear tonight with gentle west winds and a low around 54.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 54. West wind between 5 and 8 mph.

Tomorrow it will be mostly sunny, and hot, with a high around 84. The weekend doesn't look too bad.

Posted by Peter Phipps at 7:17 AM | Comment