Mayor Unlikely to Testify During Trial

The state is close to wrapping up its case against Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez on bribery and fabricating evidence charges. Prosecutors will then begin calling witnesses to prove the attempted extortion charge against Perez. As WNPR’s Lucy Nalpathanchil reports, Perez’s attorney says it’s not likely the Mayor will testify.  

On Thursday, Perez attorney Hubert Santos asked Hartford Superior Court judge Julia Dewey to sever the bribery charges from the larceny charges. Both charges were consolidated into one trial.

Santos’ argument is the defense can’t call its own witnesses to address the bribery charge until the Prosecution has finished trying to prove the second charge of larceny.

“And we have to now try and refresh them (the jury) about what the critical issues are in the bribery case which at that point would not have heard for a couple of weeks.”

Santos went on to explain that the Mayor would rather testify now on the bribery allegation rather than wait and face cross examination from the prosecution on both bribery and larceny charges.

Prosecutor Chris Alexi argued that this was not the time for the defense to bring up this issue.

“This appears to me to be an attempt of the defense trying to control the course of the case. The court has already ruled on this matter so I don’t believe any of the reasons set forth are strong reasons as to why the defendent must testify in this case or that the other reason the defendent can’t testify in the other.”

Judge Dewey agreed with Alexi and denied Santo’s motion.

Also on Thursday, the court heard from the lead investigator on the case, Michael Sullivan, who testified that Perez told him in June of 2007 that he paid city contractor Carlos Costa $20,000 for home renovations. However, documents were introduced to show Perez went to a credit union and took out a loan for $25,000 one day after investigators questioned him. Attorney Santos said Perez didn’t tell Sullivan the truth because he was being interviewed in front of city of Hartford attorney, John Rose, who knew nothing about the home improvement work.

The trial continues next week.

For WNPR, I'm Lucy Nalpathanchil