Opinion ID: 2318602
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Testimony on October 1, 2010

Text: On October 1, 2010, the second day of the trial in Family Court, DCYF called Cranston Detective John Cardone to testify. Detective Cardone testified that he was the detective assigned to the homicide investigation regarding Marco's death. The detective indicated that he and his colleague, one Detective Slaughter, [10] had interviewed Michael Patino on the day that Marco was admitted to the hospital. Detective Cardone went on to testify that during the interview Mr. Patino had described himself as having been a father figure to Marco. However, Detective Cardone further testified that, in view of the circumstances and the condition    of Marco, Mr. Patino had a very nonchalant, disconnected demeanor during the interview. Then, just prior to the point when Detective Cardone was to begin testifying about the substance of the interview, respondent's counsel stated that he had no objection to the transcript of the interview being admitted into evidence rather than going through this piecemeal; at the same time, however, he indicated that there were other materials to which he did object. The trial justice then questioned whether the interview had already been entered as a full exhibit, and he asked what exhibit number had been assigned to it. Counsel for DCYF indicated that the transcript of the interview was part of exhibit 7, which exhibit also contained Detective Cardone's supplemental narrative detailing his investigation. At that point, the trial justice ruled that the transcript of the interview should be separated from the rest of exhibit 7 and should be designated as exhibit 7A. The trial justice then admitted exhibit 7A into evidence as a full exhibit, without objection from counsel for Mr. Patino. [11] The transcript of the interview (exhibit 7A) reveals that Mr. Patino admitted to having wrestled with Marco on a bed the day before the boy was admitted to the hospital. During the interview, Mr. Patino stated that he had landed on Marco's midsection when they both fell off the bed. The transcript further reveals that Mr. Patino admitted that he had punched Marco in the ribs after they fell off of the bed. After substantial questioning in the interview, Mr. Patino also acknowledged to the detectives that he had thereafter sent Ms. Oliver a text message in which he admitted having accidentally punched Marco. Lastly, counsel for DCYF asked Detective Cardone to indicate the charge brought against Mr. Patino as a result of the investigation. The respondent's counsel objected to this question on the basis that Mr. Patino was facing charges; the trial justice overruled this objection, stating: If it's obvious, he can testify. The respondent's counsel then objected on the basis that there was not anything probative [in] the fact that somebody is charged with a crime. The trial justice overruled the latter objection, stating: Not if there is proof. Detective Cardone then testified that the charge was child neglect and then [it was] moved to first degree murder. DCYF next called Mr. Patino to the stand; he proceeded to assert his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in response to each of the questions that he was asked by counsel for DCYF. Mr. Patino's counsel opted not to pose any questions to his client. D