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Victim's mom first to testify in
Tirado trial
October 3, 2007
By Matt McFarland
Click here for video
ALBANY - Testimony began Wednesday
in Albany County Court in the trial of Edwin Tirado. He is accused
of restraining 13-year-old Jonathan Carey while working for the O.D.
Heck Developmental Center in Islayuna last February. Jonathan
stopped breathing and later died. Following opening arguments,
Jonathan's mother, Lisa Carey, was first to testify for the
prosecution. She told jurors how Jonathan was a loving child.
Outside of court Lisa Carey told
reporters that she feels Tirado is responsible for her son's death
and should be held accountable.
Tirado's attorney, Brian Donohue,
says he will make the case that his client was exhausted from
working double shifts at the center and that restraining Jonathan
was his last option. Donahue told reporters the story of Tirado and
another man driving around town in a van knowing that the boy was
dead is not true.
The prosecution, led by David
Rossi, contends that Tirado volunteered for the double shifts at the
O.D. Heck Center.
Employees at O.D. Heck also
testified Wednesday that the staff knew the best way to handle
Jonathan was to give him space and that restraining the boy with
autism would lead to an escalation of the problem. Employees
testified that Tirado was told this twice by his superiors at the
center.
Prosecutors also plan to call
Nadeem Mall to the stand. He is the other employee that was in the
van with Tirado. Mall took a plea deal earlier this year in exchange
for his testimony in the Tirado trial.
Donohue says he will call Tirado on
the stand to testify in his own defense.
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