Opinion ID: 2312707
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: On an evening in January 1987, Durward Benware was at the Trackside Tavern in Winooski, where he was introduced to Linda Joseph. After drinking there and at another night spot, they took a cab to the apartment of Candy Cochones, an acquaintance of Ms. Joseph's, in Burlington. In the cab, Ms. Joseph asked unsuccessively if she could borrow money from Mr. Benware and, later, ripped a $5 bill trying to pull it away from him as he was paying the cab driver. Both Ms. Cochones and defendant, her boyfriend, were at the apartment when Mr. Benware and Ms. Joseph arrived. After whispering to Ms. Cochones that she was going to roll Mr. Benware, Ms. Joseph made sexual advances toward him and managed to get his wallet. Although they struggled over the wallet, Mr. Benware was able to retrieve it intact. After more drinks, Mr. Benware, Ms. Joseph and defendant left the apartment. Defendant testified that he wanted to get them out of the apartment and that he also wanted to buy some cigarettes; Mr. Benware claims he thought they were going to defendant's house. In any event, a short time later Mr. Benware was knocked to the ground and his wallet was taken. He testified that he was struck on the head from behind as they were walking through a school yard, and was told by defendant not to get up as his wallet was taken, after which defendant and Ms. Joseph ran off together. Defendant's version of the incident was that Mr. Benware had become belligerent and jealous. Defendant testified that he was attacked by Mr. Benware, whereupon he shoved him to the ground and ran off, leaving Ms. Joseph with him in the school yard. He claimed that Ms. Joseph, who had told him that Mr. Benware had a lot of money and that she wanted to rob the guy, must have taken the wallet. After the assault, Mr. Benware went to a nearby house and called the police, whom he led to Ms. Cochones's apartment. His near-empty wallet was found in a nearby street. While questioning the defendant, who was found near the apartment, the police noticed a red knuckle and some specks of blood on his left hand. They also found some money in his pocket. Ms. Joseph's version of the incident was not told by her to the jury because she had fled the jurisdiction prior to trial. She had, however, confessed to the police that she had assaulted and robbed Mr. Benware, although they did not believe her at that time because she appeared to be pretty drunk.