The jury in the Michael Rodrigues rape trial has been excused
from deliberations for the day and will return for the talks at 9
a.m. Thursday. Jurors entered into deliberations shortly before
noon in the trial that has lasted two weeks. Rodrigues is the
former sheriff’s sergeant accused of raping four women between 1999
and 2007.
The jury in the Michael Rodrigues rape trial has been excused from deliberations for the day and will return for the talks at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Jurors entered into deliberations shortly before noon in the trial that has lasted two weeks.
Below is the most recent update on today’s proceedings:
The jury in the Michael Rodrigues rape trial has entered into deliberations.
Deputy District Attorney Patrick Palacios finished his closing rebuttal shortly before noon, when jurors entered the jury room to hash over a decision.
Rodrigues is accused of raping four women between 1999 and 2007, when a grand jury indicted him on three of the charges. The district attorney’s office added a fourth accuser to the case in the fall of 2008.
Jurors started deliberating after closing statements. Those arguments included the prosecution going through testimony from the four suspected witnesses, along with other character witnesses, in making a case alleging Rodrigues is a “serial rapist” who follows a similar pattern in how he pursues victims.
The defense focused on portraying the witnesses as lacking credibility and the investigation as insufficient. Cantu contended investigators didn’t take necessary steps to corroborate witness statements, while he questioned their testimony, particularly dates provided.
If Rodrigues is convicted, he could face life in prison.
Editor’s note: In an attempt to best portray the tenor of the Michael Rodrigues rape trial, the Free Lance is posting a series of videos on closing statements, which wrapped up Wednesday morning. In Part 2, seen below, portions of arguments over the testimony of Jane Doe 1 are shown. She was the first accuser who alleged the defendant raped her twice, in 1999 and 2000.
