Gov’t wraps up defense in police brutality case

The CNMI government yesterday wound up its defense in the U.S. District Court against charges of police brutality brought up by Ramon A. Ayuyu, insisting he was not mishandled to confess to a theft case.

Lawyers of both parties are expected to make their closing arguments this morning before the jury of six, plus two alternates, following two days of trial.

Mr. Ayuyu, 22, sued the government for $1 million in the federal court, claming he was beaten up by police officers to force him to sign a statement owning up to the crime that took place in November 1997.

Assistant Attorney General William Betz, representing the government and defendant Police Officer Hilary Tagabuel, presented three witnesses at yesterday’s proceeding.

Police Officers Jessie Seman and Joseph Aldan as well as Assistant Attorney General Marvin Williams, who handled the criminal case against Mr. Ayuyu in the Superior Court, took the witness stand to prop up the defense against the accusations.

Officer Seman picked up Mr. Ayuyu from his house in Koblerville to be brought to the police station in Susupe, but he said he did not force him to go with him.

Sgt. Aldan said he investigated the allegations of police misconduct when he was ordered to question the plaintiff’s mother, Virginia Imperial, following a complaint from her son.

But he added he did not take statements from Mr. Ayuyu and Officer Tagabuel because he was not instructed to do so and that the mother’s testimony regarding the charges was confusing.

“I didn’t make any effort [to interview the two] because I wasn’t asked,” he told the court during cross-examination by the plaintiff’s counsel, Steve Pixley.

Jury deliberation may begin today after the trial is concluded, although District Judge Alex R. Munson said he needs to talk to the two counsels regarding aspects of the case.

On Tuesday, he dismissed the claims against the Department of Public Safety and four other police officers, who were not identified in the complaint, after Mr. Betz filed a motion when the plaintiff rest his case.

But he rejected move to drop the case against the government and Mr. Tagabuel due to what the defense claimed as inconsistent testimonies by the plaintiff, saying the jury has enough evidence to come up with its verdict.

Mr. Tagabuel denied assaulting Mr. Ayuyu on Nov. 26, 1997 to confess to the crime of stealing $50 from a customer at Winchell’s in Susupe a few weeks prior to that date.

But the plaintiff claimed he was beaten up and had a gun pointed at his head to sign the confession letter, driving him to try to commit suicide when he went home.