Corsicana —
The jury heard the first witnesses in the trial of Larry Dale Benson Tuesday in 13th District Court in Navarro County.
Benson is being tried in connection with an alleged sexual assault of a 26-year-old woman on Oct. 19, 2008, at Napoli’s in downtown Corsicana.
He is the second person to be tried in this same assault incident. Albert Krivaqa was sentenced to two years in jail for the crime and a $5,000 fine.
The woman, whose name is withheld because the Corsicana Daily Sun doesn’t identify sexual assault victims, testified that she went out with some girlfriends drinking that night and ended up at Napoli’s where she met the two men. After dancing with the defendant, she testified that Krivaqa took her upstairs and raped her in an apartment above the restaurant, then the defendant and Krivaqa both assaulted her at the same time.
In voir dire, Benson’s attorney, Chris Lewis, said the jury would learn that the sex was consensual, that the victim was crying out because she regretted her decisions, and his client did not initiate anything.
The Navarro County jury was seated Tuesday morning, and consists of eight men, four women, and one female alternate. Judge James Lagomarsino is hearing the case. The lead prosecutor is Assistant District Attorney Amy Cadwell.
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Testimony underway in sexual assault case
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Compiled from reports issued by the Corsicana Police Department and the Navarro County Sheriff's Office.
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Hull attends training
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City spraying for mosquitoes
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