Central Falls man denied new trial after murder conviction
By News Staff
The Associated Press
A judge has denied a motion for retrial for a Central Falls man convicted of second-degree murder in the beating death of his girlfriend’s 6-year-old son.
Thirty-three-year-old Michael Patino’s motion was denied Tuesday. Sentencing is scheduled for July 7.
Patino was found guilty last month by a Providence County Superior Court jury.
State medical examiners testified that Marco Nieves died when his intestines were ruptured by a blow to his midsection.
The key evidence in the case included cellphone messages sent by Patino and the boy’s mother, Trisha Oliver, who wasn’t charged, indicating Patino had hit the boy. The state Supreme Court ruled last summer they were admissible.
Patino’s attorney, David A. Cooper, said after the trial that they would appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court.
(C) WLNE-TV 2015
