State v. Cotty

OPINION

Introduction

Justice ROBINSON

for the Court.

On March 19, 2001, the defendant, Rafael Cotty, was charged by indictment with murdering Bettie Ann Senerchia in violation of G.L.1956 § 11-23-1. After a hearing on pretrial motions, a jury trial commenced on May 8, 2002, at the conclusion of which the jury found the defendant guilty of second-degree murder. A motion for a judgment of acquittal, on which the trial justice had earlier reserved ruling, was heard and denied on June 7, 2002. The defendant’s motion for a new trial was denied on June 20, 2002; and, on September 13, 2002, the trial…