In Trial of Larry Ray Santos Hulu Moving to Quash as Rosario Spoke of Ricin As FD Trashes Family and Paints Ray as a Victim
The jury was shown video of Ray beaten by DiTommaso in the Hudson Hotel, blood on the bench, as Federal Defenders dug into mental health of Rosarios. Hulu moving to quash. Inner City Press on the case
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Podcast
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SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 14 – When Larry Ray was arraigned on charges of sexual exploitation, prostitution, forced labor and money laundering on February 12, 2020 he was wearing prison blues and still had a Federal Defender, but no financial affidavit to have FD appointed. Twitter theadette; More on Patreon here.
On March 9, 2022, the jury for Larry Ray was picked, by his five Federal Defenders and three prosecutors, on the robing room of Judge Lewis J. Liman. Inner City Press live tweeted, thread here (podcast here)
On March 10 Inner City Press live tweeted the opening statements, here (podcast here)
Then the first substantive witness, live tweeted here.
On Day 2 of the trial, March 11, Santos Rosario continued on direct examination, Inner City Press live tweeted it here (morning vlog here)
Song here.
On Day 3 of the trial, March 14, Santo Rosario finished his direct and the cross began. Inner City Press live-tweeted here (morning vlog here)
Larry Ray trial, Day 3; Santos Rosario still on direct amid word that Hulu will be filing a motion to quash.
Assistant US Attorney: What we heard last week, was that the only time Larry Ray hit you with a hammer?
Santos Rosario: No. AUSA: What was Larry Ray accusing you of? Santos Rosario: Of listing his address as offering mental health services.
AUSA: Why did you send Larry Ray pictures of your journal? Santos Rosario: He told me to.
AUSA: Please read this entry.
Santos Rosario: "I was supposed to give ricin to Talia." AUSA: And read this one. Santos Rosario: "Bernie Kerik came by the house... I was there with Mashitza."
AUSA: Did Bernie Kerik come by your house? Santos Rosario: No. AUSA: Where did you learned the name Bernie Kerik? Santos Rosario: From Larry.
AUSA: Where did you store your journals? Santos Rosario: Later I gave them all to Larry. AUSA: Why? Santos Rosario: Larry suggested it. [Now video shown, Santos Rosario on couch, crying, with big toe in view - Larry's? - and Isabella walking through. Troubling.]
[In video: Larry Ray is grilling Santos. Santos is flipping through a notebook, presumably his diary, as if looking for answers. He is crying.] AUSA: What did the defendant suggest you could do to make up for poisoning him? Santos: Paying him back with money.
AUSA: What was your understanding of how Claudia Drury made money for Larry? Santos Rosario: Prostitution. I would like up several thousands of dollars. AUSA: Did Larry Ray tell you to have sex with Claudia Drury? Santos: Yes. In a hotel she was staying in.
AUSA: Where was Larry Ray while this happened? Santos Rosario: Right next door. AUSA: How did it make you feel, when Larry Ray told Claudia Drury to perform oral sex on you? [Programming note: DOJ will be putting on Claudia Drury as a witness later this week]
[Video shown of white board with Q&A on it. Q Would you kill to not got to jail? Answer: Yes -SJR, Santos' initials] AUSA: Where was this white board? Santos Rosario: In the apartment [on E 93 St]
AUSA: What was the defendant's reaction to the magazine article? Santos Rosario: Outrage. He said it was all lies. [Audio played, with ghoulish female laughter]
AUSA: How does hearing this make you feel? Santos Rosario, after a long pause: Pretty bad. Judge Liman: Is it a good time for a break? AUSA: We have only a bit more with this witness. Judge Liman: Proceed.
Now Judge Liman ruling that the NY Mag story can be discussed, but the title won't come in [so jurors won't Google it?]
Defense wants to exclude the title of the publication. Sarah Lawrence College president's letter is characterized as hearsay and prejudicial.
Now cross examination of Santos Rosario. Federal Defender: So you knew Talia first, right? Santos Rosario: Yes. FD: Talia told you Larry was persecuted by Bernard Kerik, correct?
Santos Rosario: Yes. FD: You witnessed Larry Ray being assaulted by Frank DiTommaso at the Hudson Hotel, correct? Santos Rosario: Yes. [Now grainy Hudson Hotel security video shown to the jury.]
FD: Did we just see DiTommaso strike Larry Ray several times? Santos Rosario: Yes.
[Now video is shown of Larry Ray in bloody purple polo shirt sprawled on Hudson Hotel bench after beat-down, with Santos Rosario filming and asking, State the date and time.] FD: So Larry's apartment was cluttered so things got damaged, correct?
FD: So your sister Felicia was having problems with her mental health, right? Santos Rosario: Not that I recall. FD: You told Larry that most of the parenting was done by your sister, right? Santos Rosario: Yes. FD: & it was after that that Larry criticized them?
Now Federal Defenders show jury an email to professor Marvin in which Santos Rosario tells him he thought of cutting or even raping Talia, Larry Ray's daughter.
[And what did Sarah Lawrence College do? Will they, like Hulu, seek to quash? Trial continues]
Covering will continue, including on Patreon.
Back on April 28, 2021, there was a suppression hearing about his arrest and questioning. Inner City Press live tweeted it here and below.
On December 22 Ray's Federal Defenders requested a jury questionnaire citing adverse publicity "not only in traditional media outlets." But the next sections contains redactions, after the words "Community Bookstore live, and apparently of a URL, because it contains a name. But how then is it confidential?
On February 4, the Federal Defenders wrote to Judge Lewis J. Liman that "the attorney client relationship between Mr. Ray and his defense team has irreparably broken down... Mr. Ray requests that the Court appoint new counsel." This was heard on February 10, without the previously available call-in line (unlike a February 4 Coinbase oral argument on which the line was opened).
On March 7 in Courtroom 24B, Judge Liman informed the parties that he will not tell the jurors about sexual grooming, finding it incorporated in sexual manipulation.