Connecticut
Judge rules experts can’t say who hired them in CT state trooper’s manslaughter trial
The trial against Connecticut State Police trooper Brian North, who faces a manslaughter charge in the deadly shooting of Mubarak Soulemane in 2020, continued Monday with a ruling that will bar the defense from mentioning that two experts expected to testify Tuesday were initially consulted by the state when they gave opinions that the trooper’s actions were justified.
Inspector General Robert Devlin, Jr. argued that it would be “unfair” to associate the experts with the state at this point, as they were initially consulted by Middlesex State’s Attorney Michael Gailor before the Office of Inspector General was created in 2021, at which time Devlin took over all officer-involved shooting and in-custody death investigations.
“I disagree with that opinion and their conclusion,” Devlin argued, adding that who initially hired the experts is “just not a material fact.”
Following his investigation into the Jan. 15, 2020, shooting on Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Devlin concluded that North’s actions were not justified, going against the opinions of the experts hired by Gailor. North, 33, faces one count of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm.
Monday marked the sixth day of the trial in the Ansonia-Milford Judicial District Courthouse and the second in which North’s attorney, Bridgeport-based Lawyer Frank Riccio, has presented a defense. Riccio called a Connecticut State Police instructor to the stand Monday and told Judge H. Gordon Hall that he made every effort to get his last two witnesses for Monday’s testimony but that their travel made it impossible.
Riccio is expected to rest his defense once the jury hears from two experts who previously said they believe North was justified when he fired seven shots at Soulemane, who was 19 when he led police in Norwalk on a pursuit after displaying a knife in an AT&T store and stealing a Hyundai Sonata from a Lyft driver. Norwalk officers called off their pursuit on Route 7 before state police began pursuing the Sonata on Interstate 95 upon being incorrectly told the driver was involved in a carjacking.
Following a high-speed chase that involved multiple collisions, the Sonata got off I-95 on Exit 43 in West Haven, where Soulemane struck a Chevrolet Trailblazer and was found unresponsive when he was partially boxed in by state police cruisers just after 5 p.m. State police troopers, including North, and an officer from West Haven surrounded the vehicle before the West Haven officer smashed the passenger side window.
Soulemane — whose family testified earlier in the trial that the teen suffered from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and appeared to be undergoing a psychiatric episode — then woke up and began reaching for a serrated kitchen knife in his waistband. North, who was positioned at the driver’s side of the car with his gun drawn, testified Friday that the teen raised the knife and that he believed the West Haven officer had begun entering the vehicle, prompting him to fire his weapon.
CT state trooper takes stand in trial, defends fatal shooting of teen. It escalated to ‘lethal force’
Speaking on the motion to suppress on Tuesday, Riccio argued that it’s always customary when experts are brought in to inquire about who contacted them and if they are being paid to testify.
“That’s standard operating procedure when we speak to any expert,” Riccio argued.
Mentioning that the experts were initially consulted by Gailor speaks to the issue of “credibility and bias” with expert witnesses and would illustrate that, if they had any bias in the matter, it likely would have been skewed toward the prosecutor who initially hired them and not the defense, Riccio added.
“The state of Connecticut hired them,” Riccio said. “Attorney Devlin is a representative of the state of Connecticut.”
“I had nothing to do with hiring these people,” Devlin said.
“There’s a prejudicial aspect to this,” Devlin continued.
In hearing the motion, Hall said a number of things have happened since the experts were initially consulted, including the arrest of his client, and that ultimately it was the decision by the defense to retain them for testimony.
“I don’t see the relevance really of what happened before that,” Hall said.
“I think it’s completely relevant,” Riccio countered.
“I think the relevance is marginal at best,” Hall said, ruling in favor of the state.
Riccio earlier in the day had called Connecticut State Police Trooper Craig Brezniak to the stand to testify about training he had given North. Brezniak has worked as an instructor with the police academy and serves as a coordinator with the Connecticut State Police Tactical Team — which includes troopers with specialized training who respond to potentially hostile situations.
Brezniak began training North for the team in November 2019, after he applied to join. Brezniak testified that firearm instruction was included in the training dealing specifically with, among other things, barriers.
Barriers like windows, doors and walls can affect the trajectory of a bullet, Brezniak testified, adding that tactical team members are generally trained to shoot a hole in barriers before believing that the bullet’s path will be uninterrupted.
During cross-examination, Devlin inquired as to whether state police conduct any firearm training involving one- or two-round drills. Brezniak said yes and was interrupted by Devlin when he attempted to elaborate.
“That’s a yes or no answer, sir,” said Devlin, who has criticized several aspects surrounding the response by police once they found Soulemane unresponsive, including North’s decision not only to fire but to discharge seven rounds.
Brezniak later clarified that low-round drills are usually done for budgetary reasons in instances where the training is focused on something like drawing a weapon and does not require numerous rounds to be fired. Brezniak said he conducted drills with North that included up to 10 rounds being discharged.
The trial is expected to continue Tuesday at 10 a.m. with Riccio’s last two witnesses before he rests his defense.
Connecticut
Another overseas financial fraud in Connecticut?
This week, NBC Connecticut Investigates told you about a new kind of crime happening called “pig butchering” – where police say online predators overseas have lured investors here into fraudulent schemes – and they have lost thousands of dollars.
It turns out the same day our report was airing, police in another town made an arrest in what they call a similar case.
We originally profiled an East Windsor man in his 70s who said he fell victim to a pig butchering scheme, where he kept giving more and more money to an online trading platform that he lost access to.
This included him giving $70,000 cash to a courier who showed up at his home.
We have now learned of a similar case just one town over, in South Windsor.
Police say they conducted a sting operation and arrested a 42-year-old Brooklyn, New York, man who was in town to pick up $20,000 in cash from a 90-year-old man.
Investigators explain pig butchering compounds operate in southeast Asia and based on what they have found in this South Windsor case, this fraud has similarities to the one in East Windsor.
South Windsor Police Lt. Mark Cleverdon said, “The dollar amount was almost similar, in a sense it was around $70,000 they were asking for over the period of time. Very similar in a sense that a courier arrived of an Asian descent to pick up that money. So certainly a lot of similarities that we were able to relate to this as to the one that you had previously spoken to that individual about.”
Police said the South Windsor man also gave the alleged schemers $49,000 earlier this week.
Investigators add that if you think something like this has happened to you, contact local or state police immediately.
Connecticut
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo closes exhibits amid confirmed case of bird flu
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo has closed down exhibits and euthanized birds after a cotton patch goose died of avian flu.
The zoo learned of the case of highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI) on Tuesday after test results came back on the goose, which had died on the grounds.
“In response, the zoo has taken additional steps above and beyond already established protective measures to ensure the health and safety of its birds, animals, staff, and guests,” the zoo said in a statement on Thursday. “The zoo is working closely with state and federal partners, including U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to follow guidelines and conduct ongoing reviews as a result of the detection.”
Health and safety precautions had already been implemented in response to the nationwide outbreak of bird flu, but the zoo increased those measures “out of an abundance of caution.”
The zoo euthanized birds in its pond community, since they may have been exposed, and quarantined birds in nearby exhibits that didn’t have direct contact with the affected flock. Ravens, peafowl and turkeys are among the birds being monitored.
In an update, the zoo said 10 quarantined birds had tested negative but that they’d continue to be isolated while monitoring continued, News 12 Connecticut reported.
In addition, the zoo temporarily shuttered the farmyard and outdoor aviary and limited bird access to care providers and other professionals, canceling events that would have involved birds.
Bird flu has been detected in flocks throughout New England and beyond, including in Connecticut. Animals in zoos around the country have also died.
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Connecticut
CT Man — Father Of 3 Young Kids — Killed In DC Plane Crash
SALEM, CT — Connecticut is mourning the death of Casey Crafton, of Salem, who was killed when an American Airlines passenger flight and a military helicopter crashed into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., Wednesday night, according to a state official.
State Sen. Martha Marx announced on social media that Crafton was killed in the tragedy.
“The airline tragedy in Washington, D.C., last night has deeply impacted our Salem community. Casey Crafton—husband of Rachel and father to their three sons—was among the passengers on the American Airlines flight from Kansas that went down in the Potomac River. According to media reports and government sources, there are no survivors,” Marx wrote. “My heart goes out to the Crafton-Gadbois family during this unimaginable time. I ask our community to keep them in your prayers as they navigate this profound loss.”
The Salem CT Little League wrote “Our small town is heartbroken by a devastating tragedy involving one of our beloved Little League members. The Crafton family, deeply involved in all things Salem, has suffered an unimaginable loss. With heavy hearts, we share the news that Casey Crafton tragically passed away in the horrific airline crash in Washington DC. Please keep his family close to your hearts and in your prayers during this difficult time.”
The community has created a Meal Train page for the family, and more than $23,000 has been raised as of Thursday night. (You can view the page here).
A total of 67 people died in the crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. More than 40 bodies have been removed from the water as of late Thursday afternoon, CNN reported.
The American Airlines passenger flight and a UH-60 Black Hawk, with a crew of three, collided about 8:48 p.m. Wednesday night in clear weather conditions.
Earlier on Thursday, it was revealed that two former Russian figure skating stars from the 1990s who once worked at a Simsbury skating center and may have lived in the town were on board.
Both Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, Russian nationals who moved to Simsbury in the 1990s, are presumed dead after the crash.
The husband-and-wife team were champion pairs skaters in the 1990s, competing in both the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, and the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.
They failed to medal in the Olympics, but the couple did earn a bronze medal in the 1993 World Figure Skating Championships and won gold in the 1994 World Championships, the second-most prestigious competition behind the Olympics.
According to the Dec. 21, 2007 article on NewEngland.com, the couple turned professional in 1998 and, eventually, settled down in Simsbury to work at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in their new hometown.
Constructed in the mid-1990s, the ISCC put Simsbury on the map when 1994 Olympic gold medalist Oksana Baiul moved to Connecticut and trained there.
Patch editors Deb Belt and Michael Lemanski contributed to this story.
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