By Peter Sutters
I&M Staff Writer • May 8, 2017
The first day of the trial of a New York City man accused of kidnapping, raping and assaulting a woman in the early morning hours of July 5, 2013 in Surfside got underway in Nantucket Superior Court today with the the victim emotionally describing what portions of the alleged attack she could remember.
Jorge Adames-Garcia, 32, was indicted in 2016 on four counts of aggravated rape during the commission of a felony, kidnapping, unarmed robbery, assault with intent to rape, assault and battery (two counts) and malicious destruction of property following a successful DNA match.
In addition to the victim, the resident who first encountered her the morning of July 5 testified, as well as the nurse at Nantucket Cottage Hospital who examined her and collected evidence for future DNA testing.
Cape & Islands assistant district attorney Dan Higgins asked the victim to describe in detail what happened to her in the parking lot of Surfside Beach as well as at the end of a dirt road in the area. The alleged victim often had to take long pauses to gather herself before describing the assaults.
Defense attorney Claudia Lagos’ questioning of the victim centered around what she characterized as a number of inconsistencies in her story, from when she first made contact with a resident who called 911, to the nurse at the hospital to what she had testified to earlier in the day. Lagos suggested in her opening statement the sex between her client and the victim was consensual and asked questions about her state of intoxication throughout the day and evening prior to the attack.
Testimony is expected to continue Tuesday around 9 a.m.