Trial continues with Testimony of Child
Written by admin, Mar 7, 2012, 0 Comments
Courtesy Monica Garcia,
The Office of District Attorney Isidro R. Alaniz reports that the victim in The State of Texas v. Jose Arturo Vergara testified again today and described to jurors the events that led to the criminal charges.
Early this morning, eleven year old “Pearl” continued her testimony, which began late yesterday in the trial of her male relative accused of sexually assaulting her.
“Pearl” testified that she met the defendant for the first time at the age of eight and that her family trusted him with her care by allowing him to pick her up from an afterschool program and watch over her until her mother returned home from work. During that time alone with her, she testified that he raped her continuously until she gathered the courage to tell a teacher aide at her elementary school.
“Pearl” explained to jurors that the defendant would instruct her to remove her clothing and lay down in order to allow him to rape her. She testified that she would cry during the assault as well as afterwards but stated that the defendant showed her no remorse or emotion.
On the stand, the child explained how the defendant took advantage of the time alone with her and that, although he “seemed nice at first”, she grew to fear him and believed him when he told her that ‘no one would believe her’ if she spoke of the assault.
Testimony began yesterday after a recent break in the trial; after jury selection and on the morning of opening statements, the defendant arrived at a local emergency room for an as yet undetermined cause. Yesterday’s testimony included the investigating officer from the Laredo Police Department, the teacher aide to whom the victim out cried and the child victim. Today’s testimony included that of the child victim, Dr. Amando Garza and Dr. Gregorio Pina. Dr. Garza, a local pediatrician, testified that the child did show physical signs of sexual abuse.
The trial will continue tomorrow morning at 9am in the Central Jury Room. The Honorable District Court Judge Mark Lutjen is presiding over the trial.
The defendant, Jose Arturo Vergara, is charged with Continuous Sexual Abuse and Prohibited Sexual Contact.
