State v. Wilbur

The defendants, Raymond Wilbur, Ronald J. Asselin, and James E. Rogers were tried on a joint indictment which charges them with setting fire to a cocktail lounge in downtown Providence, a violation of G. L. 1956 (1969 Reenactment) §11-4-3. A Superior Court jury returned guilty verdicts against all three defendants. Wilbur and Asselin have taken appeals.

At about 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 1973, Patrolmen Zienowicz and Lopez were in their police cruiser. They had just transported a prisoner to Providence Police Headquarters at La Salle Square, and were returning to the South Providence…