Today in Kew Gardens opening arguments were heard in the bench trial of State Senator Hiram Monserrate, who faces three counts of felony assault against his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo. The Daily News reports that the prosecutor accused Monserrate of flying into a jealous rage at finding another man's business card in his girlfriend's purse, and attacked her with a glass of water, saying, "You want the water? You want the water? Here's your water!", slashing her face with the broken glass.
Monserrate, however - and Ms. Giraldo, the alleged victim - both claim the injuries were a result of an accident. Monserrate's lawyer said in court today that the accident occurred as he splashed a glass of water onto her while she was in bed (and drunk), "In one continuous motion water splashed on Miss Giraldo, causing her to jump up and collide with him and the glass. It was a freak accident in no uncertain terms."
It was previously reported that a key piece of evidence in the case—and the reason why prosecutors are going ahead even without an accusation from the victim—was a surveillance videotape of Monserrate dragging his girlfriend "viciously and violently" home that night. There are also supposedly hospital workers who will testify that Ms. Giraldo claimed at the time she had been beaten by Monserrate.
Monserrate, state senator for the Queens district containing Jackson Heights and Corona, is being represented by Joe Tacopina, the lawyer who represented the police officers in the Abner Louima case, as well as Bernard Kerik, Michael Jackson, and others. His website quotes GQ's pronouncement that he is the "hottest lawyer in the country." Monserrate certainly pulled out the big guns for this case.
