Verdict due in NY rape trial

A verdict is expected today in the trial of the former Goldman Sachs banker accused of raping an Irish J1 student in the Hamptons, New York state, in 2013.

Wed, 29 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

John Riordan, New York

Jason Lee faces up to 25 years in prison if found guilty of rape. Judge Barbara Kahn said yesterday at the end of closing arguments that she would announce the verdict at 4pm Irish time.

The three-week trial included testimony given by the alleged victim and her friend who both flew over from Ireland for the trial just over a fortnight ago.

Mr Lee, who opted for a non-jury trial, did not take the stand.

Defence lawyer Andrew Lankler and prosecuting attorney Kerriann Kelly both pored over the evidence in their closing statements yesterday, going back over the events of the early hours of August 20, 2013.

The Irish friends, who were visiting the alleged victim’s brother in the Hamptons met Mr Lee at a nightclub before accompanying him back to the house he was renting in East Hampton.

Mr Lee denies subsequently attacking the student in a downstairs bathroom. His lawyer yesterday highlighted what he termed as “clear inconsistencies” and “outright contradictions” in the testimony of the woman, saying there was “not one piece of evidence” which could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his client should be convicted of rape in the first degree.

Lankler cited evidence of the woman’s saliva found on Mr Lee’s shorts, suggesting the pair engaged in consensual oral sex.

However, in her closing argument, Ms Kelly reminded the court of Mr Lee’s disappearance when the police arrived, of the 49 calls and text messages he logged during the two and a half hours the police were searching for him, and the fact that some calls were to lawyers.

The “consciousness” of Mr Lee having committed a “heinous crime was palpable”, said the prosecution. The multiple communications were “indicative” of his panic, with one of those texts asking for an “assist” from a law enforcement connection of a friend of his.

“He destroyed her innocence,” said Ms Kelly. “He took what he wanted. On her testimony alone, he is guilty of rape in the first degree.”

Earlier, Mr Lankler pointed to the “lack of forensic evidence” and that there was “not a single scratch on Mr Lee” in spite of the fact that it is alleged that there was a “violent struggle”.