Roland Ellison said his assault on the correctional officer was done alone, without his co-defendant.
SPRINGFIELD – Roland Ellison took the stand in his own defense Friday at his trial for the severe beating of a correctional officer at the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow.
He didn’t deny pummeled and kicked correctional officer Joseph Giannetti repeatedly on Jan. 5, 2011, causing a severe concussion, broken rib, fractured cheek and forehead lacerations.
The Hampden Superior Court jury has seen the jail video of the beating numerous times during the trial in front of Judge Constance M. Sweeney.
Sheriff Michael J. Ashe previously called the assault the worst instance of an officer injured at the hands of an inmate in the last 20 years.
Ellison, 32, of Springfield, said when he was kicking and punching Giannetti he did not see Ellison’s head hitting a metal grate that was part of the shelving in the officers station.
And Ellison said his co-defendant, Alex Gonzalez, had no role in planning or carrying out the attack on Giannetti.
Edward C. Bryant Jr., Ellison’s lawyer, acknowledged in closing arguments the jury could see Ellison attacking Giannetti on the video.
That is the charge of assault and battery on a correction officer, Bryant said.
But, Bryant said, the state didn’t prove Ellison knew Giannetti’s head was hitting the metal grate. He said jurors should find him innocent of the charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (the metal grate).
Assistant District Attorney Howard I. Safford told jurors Ellison would have had to see and hear Giannetti’s head hitting the grate as he punched the correctional officer.
Jurors are scheduled to resume deliberating Monday.
Ellison said his beating of Giannetti was not planned, and he snapped because Giannetti said something about his mother, who died in November 2010.
Ellison said an exchange he started with Giannetti got acrimonious and the officer said he didn’t care about his (Ellison’s) dead mother.
Safford suggested to jurors Ellison fabricated that conversation, in tandem with Gonzalez, to have an excuse for the assault on Giannetti at trial.
Giannetti had testified his severe concussion caused him to have some memory loss from that day, but said he doesn’t recall saying anything about Ellison’s mother and he would not have said such a thing.
Elizabeth Rodriguez-Ross, lawyer for the 21-year-old Gonzalez, said there is no evidence at all Gonzalez had anything to do with planning the assault or helping Ellison.
She said Gonzalez, on the video, looks shocked and backs up when he sees Ellison beat Giannetti.
Safford said Gonzalez can be seen on the video with Ellison before the attack, watching him during the attack and shaking his hand and hugging afterwards.
Several jail staff people and inmates testifying for the prosecution said when inmates are planning to fight they “strap up,” or tighten the Velcro on their sneakers.
Safford said the video shows Gonzalez and Ellison “strapping up” before Ellison attacks Giannetti.
Ellison testified he was just tucking his pant leg into his sneaker.