THE TRIAL OF NICHOLAS GIANQUITTI, CHARGED WITH THE MURDER of his neighbor, Cranston, Rhode Island, Fire Lieutenant James Pagano, began this week. On May 18 of last year Firegeezer reported on the murder HERE and the subsequent bail hearing HERE and HERE.
WFXT-TV reported from the scene on the day of the shooting:
The trial began this past Tuesday with the prosecutor eliciting testimony from some of the eyewitnesses to the event that took place in the front yard of the house during a childrens’ birthday party. Pagano’s sister Jean Verdi was one of them and she told the court (in part):
Pagano and his father, she said, turned to leave, but then apparently something was said from inside Gianquitti’s house.
Verdi said she couldn’t hear what, if anything, was said, but that she heard her brother say, “Don’t swear at my kids. Just don’t swear at my kids.”
“And then he said, ‘Just don’t (expletive) swear at my kids.’ ”
Then, the door opened and Pagano took a step inside the house, Verdi said. He was gone for two or three seconds. Anthony Pagano stayed outside. Next thing, Verdi said, “I saw Jimmy jumping out of the house. He was flying … trying to get away from the house.”
James Pagano ran down the steps and around a white Mitsubishi; Gianquitti was close behind, holding a gun, she said.
“He shot him,” Verdi said, adding that she saw a small puff of smoke after each pop.
Verdi said she had started running toward her brother, but seeing the gun, she sought shelter behind the fence that separates both properties. Then, she noticed her 5-year-old nephew, Charles, by a flower bed. She grabbed him and took him back to the house. By the time she reached James Pagano, her parents, Rosealba and Anthony Pagano, were kneeling at each side of her brother. Gianquitti was nearby, still holding the gun.
“I screamed at him to get the hell out of here. He [Gianquitti] looked at me, then at my parents, all with the gun still drawn.”
Meanwhile, her brother moaned, she said.
The second day finished up the eyewitness’ testimonies and started hearing from the police officers who responded to the call. They told of the evidence that indicated the shooting took place outside on the front yard and that the shot that killed Lt. Pagano was a hollow-point bullet that entered his back, confirming that he was running away when it was fired.
Cranston Police Officer Anthony Bucci identifies
the pistol that he confiscated at the murder scene.
(Providence Journal photo)
Thursday’s session covered the forensic evidence that was collected at the scene and the autopsy records. The trial did not convene on Friday.
WPRI-TV Ch. 12 has been covering and taping the trial and reporting by video:
The testimony continues with the playing of the 9-1-1 tapes:
Forensic evidence is presented on the third day of the trial:
The trial is being live-blogged by Providence Journal reporter Maria Armental and you can read the full account of these first three days’ testimony on her blog page HERE. You will find it enlightening.
The trial is scheduled to resume Monday when the State is expected to finish its case.
Recent Comments