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Alleged Rape Cop's Attorney: $57 Mil Lawsuit Is Part Of Accuser's Motivation

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There were dramatic developments Monday during closing arguments in the trial of two New York City Police officers accused of rape.

The attorney for one of the officers said the victim is in it for the money, reports CBS 2's Pablo Guzman.

At the end of the day, Officer Franklin Mata walked briskly away from the courthouse. His lawyer, Edward Mandery, told the jury to remember that what the woman and her friends said on the witness stand was partially motivated by her $57 million lawsuit.

1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reports: Closing Arguments Continue

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"Any time you get witnesses that come in here and say thing inconsistent you have to question their motives. I mean, everybody knows here, it's not an elephant in the room. There is a huge lawsuit against my client, Officer Moreno and the City of New York with regards to this case. So, there's stuff to be gained," Mandery said.

Adopting a low key, conversational tone, Mandery hit on the lack of hard evidence that would connect either Officer Mata or Officer Kenneth Moreno to the rape of the woman the district attorney said was so drunk, she could not say no, even though, Mandery said, a surveillance video showed the cops returning three more times to her apartment.

"We spent a day -- a day of our lives -- to listen to their experts say they had no DNA or fiber evidence. We spent over a day! To learn: nothing," Mandery said.

Mandery also cautioned the jurors to think about putting Officer Mata away on the word of a woman whose memory was impaired by alcohol.

"She doesn't have a clear memory. She doesn't have an accurate memory. You want to convict someone of a crime, don't rely on a witness who doesn't have an accurate memory," Mandery said.

Now that the defense has finished its summation, it's the prosecution's turn Tuesday. And many people say it has got to win the case there.

If convicted for being the lookout while his partner raped the woman, Officer Mata is looking at a maximum of 25 years. If he is convicted of falsifying records, he is looking at one year.

Whom do you believe? Sound off in our comments section below...


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