Closing Arguments This Morning In Bjork's Rape Trial
CANTON - The prosecution and defense in the trial of Raymond R. Bjork Jr. rested their cases Tuesday in St. Lawrence County Court.
The presentation of testimony and evidence ended after four days without Bjork taking the stand in his own defense. Closing arguments will begin this morning, with the jury of seven men and five women expected to begin deliberations shortly thereafter.
Bjork, 38, Ogdensburg, is accused of forcing his way into a woman's home on Valentine's Day 2009 and raping her after she passed out following a night of heavy drinking. Defense attorney Brian D. Pilatzke spent most of Tuesday presenting his case. He had two witnesses testify how they saw Bjork and the woman dancing and talking for a good portion of the evening on Feb. 13, 2009, at Kozy Korner Tavern on New York Avenue in Ogdensburg.
Last week, several prosecution witnesses testified that the woman had met Bjork that evening for the first time and repeatedly denied his advances at the tavern.
The woman also recalled on the stand how she was avoiding Bjork that evening, including leaving the dance floor several times when he approached her.
District Attorney Nicole M. Duvé had recalled the woman's cousin late Tuesday afternoon, as a rebuttal witness, to reiterate to jurors that the woman wanted nothing to do with Bjork. The woman reportedly told her cousin before passing out to make sure Bjork left with her. Her cousin and Bjork had helped her get home and into bed after a night of partying.
Kimberly LaRue, who has two of Bjork's six children, earlier told the court as a defense witness that Bjork called her about 20 to 25 times from midnight to 4 a.m. on Feb. 14, 2009.
He also had texted her several times that evening. The nature of those telephone calls or texts wasn't revealed in court. Jessica Thomas, a distant cousin of Bjork who didn't spend a lot of time with him, also testified for the defense that she overheard the woman reportedly tell Bjork she wanted to have sex with him. Bjork had been chatting on his cell phone at the time outside of Kozy's when the statement apparently was made.
Roderick A. Waters, a substance abuse counselor with the St. Lawrence County Chemical Dependency Services, also testified for the defense on the effects of "blacking out" after drinking large amounts of alcohol.
Judge Jerome J. Richards twice denied a defense motion Tuesday to dismiss charges against Bjork.
He is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act and single counts of first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree burglary, second-degree burglary as a sexually motivated felony and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle.
