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March 21, 2007

Prosecution rests in Atwells Avenue murder case

PROVIDENCE — Donnell C. Greene, a self-described “well-respected gunman” in his Mount Pleasant neighborhood, gave conflicting statements to the police about how his friend Matthew “Casper” Nicholson was shot to death on the street in 2005, according to testimony in today's trial.

Greene, who is being tried in Superior Court on a charge of second-degree murder in the slaying of the 18-year-old Nicholson, confessed to the police that he shot and killed his buddy by mistake, according to testimony by police Detective Angelo A’Vant.

But at other points during a police investigation of the slaying on Atwells Avenue, according to trial evidence, Greene insisted that Nicholson was shot by another person.

A’Vant testified that Greene boasted that “he is well-respected as a gunman in his neighborhood … (and) they would never understand that he shot Matthew.”

Greene, now 20, was living with Nicholson and Nicholson’s mother and uncle in a tenement apartment on Atwells when Nicholson was killed.

The attorney general’s office wrapped up its case against Greene, and Assistant Public Defender Eamonn G. Gill told Judge Robert D. Krause that Greene would not present any witnesses.

Krause pointedly asked Greene if he was waiving his right to testify, and Greene responded, “Yes, sir.”

The prosecution and the defense are expected to make their closing arguments to the jury tomorrow.

-- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 6:50 PM | Permalink

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