Thursday, September 6, 2012

Victim may take stand in ex-officer rape trial

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It could be an emotional day of testimony in the rape trial of a former Houston police officer. The waitress who claims that ex-cop raped her may take the stand today.

The defense in this rape case claims the sex was consensual but the prosecution claims otherwise, saying the Houston Police Department had a rapist on the payroll.

In opening statements yesterday, each side outlined their cases. The prosecution said former HPD Officer Abraham Joseph picked up the victim at a cantina where she worked as a waitress, along with a man, but dropped the man off and took her to a park where he raped her.

She went home where she was staying with her aunt and aunt's husband and they testified in court she came home crying, telling them what happened.

"Still handcuffed, he's in full uniform, badge, gun at his hip, never takes his uniform off. He rapes her," said prosecutor Heyward Carter.

"But what Mr. Joseph -- and what you will learn from the evidence in this case -- did not do is anything that wasn't by agreement," said Defense attorney Nicole Deborde.

If he's found guilty, Joseph faces anywhere from five years to life in prison.

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local, elissa rivas

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