Previous Story
Deposition of witness on medical emergency OK’d
Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman has approved the deposition of a witness in the jury trial of former Department of Public Safety deputy commissioner Ambrosio T. Ogumoro and Herman M. Manglona Jr.
A deposition is the taking of testimony of a witness outside of court. In criminal cases, depositions are normally taken to preserve the witness’ testimony. To allow a deposition, a judge will usually consider whether there’s a strong likelihood that a witness won’t be available to testify at trial.
Wiseman approved the deposition after the parties in the case disclosed at an in-chamber conference on Friday that a witness will be going on a medical emergency.
Present at the conference were assistant attorneys general Matthew Baisley and Heather Barcinas, representing the government, Wiseman said. Attorney Mark Hanson appeared for Ogumoro, while assistant public defender Matthew Meyer appeared for Manglona.
The trial of Ogumoro and Manglona was supposed to begin last Monday, but Wiseman rescheduled it on Friday to March 14, 2016. Wiseman did not indicate the reason for the new schedule.
A source, however, disclosed that one of the witnesses has a medical emergency.
The 57-year-old Ogumoro is charged with eight counts relating to theft by deception, misconduct in public office, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, removal of government property, and theft by unlawful taking.
Manglona is charged with conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking or disposition and receiving stolen property.
The trial of Ogumoro and two co-defendants in his other criminal case will commence on Jan. 18, 2016.
