Judge Permits Inmates to Testify
January 16, 2002
Circuit Judge Larry G. Turner, who presides over the case of four Florida State Prison guards accused of killing an inmate, ruled yesterday that prisoner testimony will be permitted. The announcement was a major blow to defense attorneys who had asked the judge to prohibit such testimony because of credibility concerns. Prosecutors believe inmate testimony will help jurors understand why corrections officers may have killed Frank Valdes in July 1999.
Inmates will testify that several guards began to systematically beat prisoners in retaliation for a miscarriage a female corrections officer suffered after an earlier confrontation with an inmate. Valdes was reportedly upset by the alleged abuse and began a campaign to notify the press. According to inmates and prosecutors, guards murdered Valdes to silence him. Judge Turner explained his ruling by saying, "It's the truth part of it that we're working on here." Opening statements are scheduled to begin Wednesday.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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