Rhode Island v. Matthew Thomas, et al.
Client:
Bill Devereaux
Kevin Bristow
Pannone, Lopes, & Devereaux, LLP
Providence, RI
Case Summary:
On July 14, 2003, a dispute between the Narragansett Indian Tribe and the state of Rhode Island over whether the tribe was required to pay state taxes on cigarettes sold on tribal land culminated in a state police raid on a tribe-run smoke shop.
Teams of state police, including five undercover detectives and a canine unit, executed a daytime raid to seize cartons of cigarettes from the smoke shop, resulting in a melee between police and tribal members. As a result of the melee, seven tribal members were charged with various crimes including resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and simple assault.
The Challenge:
Due to the publicity surrounding the smoke shop, the raid was filmed from six angles, including four news cameras, a state police videographer, and a security camera within the shop itself. We quickly realized that objective video evidence would be critical in recreating the chaotic events of the raid to tell the defense's story. We joined the case in order to help the defense team present the massive amount of video evidence in the most effective way possible.
The WIN Solution:
- Attention to Detail: We initially reviewed all of the video by painstakingly combing through the footage frame-by-frame while keeping a log of all events depicted on tape. This preparation proved invaluable, leading to the discovery of instances of police misconduct easily missed when viewing the footage in real time.
- Clock: To establish a universal temporal point of reference, we added a clock to the video which charted the elapsed time from when police first touched a tribal member to the last arrest. Our timer became the way in which the judge and both sides of the case perceived the relative timing of the events of the raid.
- Quad-Screen Video: We used advanced video software to synchronize the video footage from multiple cameras, creating a more complete timeline of events. The resulting “quad-screen” video was used by the defense team in preparation of trial and offered in court as an exhibit to rebut the testimony of police officers and establish the tribal members' stories.
- Custom Annotated Video Clips: We broke each piece of the story down into a separate clip, using slow motion and on-screen highlighting to better present hard-to-see events. We also used proprietary software to catalogue and organize dozens of video clips, allowing the defense team to access the video of any event instantly.
- Advanced Video Techniques: We also used advanced video techniques to line up out of sequence clips using audio, as well as identifying the time sequence of photos by lining them up with the video. President of WIN Interactive and FBI-certified forensic video analyst Brian Carney, Esq. testified regarding these advanced video techniques, as well as the creation of the quad-screen video.
- Interactive Video Timeline: For closing arguments, we created an interactive video timeline, linking still images from the video evidence to clips of each event. The timeline allowed the jury to quickly see all critical events at a glance. Attorney Bill Devereaux used the timeline to deliver a powerful closing argument.
- Equipment and Trial Assistance: To help the defense team present this critical video evidence at trial, we transformed the historical Providence courthouse into a high-tech courtroom of the future, with three large screen TVs, a projector and screen, document camera, and individual monitors for counsel, witness, and judge. We also had staff on site to ensure the smooth functioning of all hardware and software.
Video Testimonials:
Bill Devereaux
Pannone, Lopes, & Devereaux, LLP
Providence, RI
WIN Studio Tools Used:
Custom Presentations:
