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Cop dodged requested interview: Defense
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Posted on Apr 01 1999
Police officer James Rabauliman, who took the witness stand yesterday, had to answer the jury on why he can’t spare some time with the defense team after he granted an interview with the government’s lawyer.
“Do I have to talk to you?” the officer reportedly told defense lawyer Masood Karimapour, as the jury trial of Francis Eugenio marked its second day.
Rabauliman was the partner of Jose Cepeda when the Department of Public Safety responded to an emergency call over at Wendy’s restaurant on Nov. 29, 1997.
“I was too busy,” he said, adding that Aaron Williams, the government’s lawyer, made a prior appointment for the interview for the trial.
Failed attempt
However, Karimapour told the court that his colleague tried to make an appointment with the police officer but was advised that he will call him.
After the promised call was not made, the defense team proceeded to DPS to see him but was refused.
During his testimony over the incident at Wendy’s, Rabauliman remembered to see a human figure with a white fabric over his head running inside the establishment after his partner fell down near the back door. He appeared to be wearing no shirt.
Moments later, he saw another figure running outside with the similar white covering on the head.
Karimapour told the court that when DPS officers saw Arnold Sablan at the site he was not wearing a shirt and had a white fabric around his head.
Fast recovery
Meanwhile, Dr. Humbert George of the Commonwealth Health Center said police officer Cepeda was so lucky to lead a normal life again after he was temporarily immobilized.
“He made a tremendous recovery,” he said when he took the witness stand yesterday.
When Cepeda was rushed to CHC after his head was hit with a crow bar at Wendy’s, the officer had a depressed fracture of the skull, he said.
“It was not something we (CHC) can take care of. We don’t have a neuro surgeon,” he said. “The injury occurred right on top of the brain which controls the motor function.”
