Dublin firefighter convicted of raping woman in Boston hotel room
A jury in Boston has convicted Dublin firefighter Terence Crosbie of raping a woman in a hotel room. The incident occurred before the St. Patrick’s Day weekend in 2020. Crosbie, 39, was found guilty by a panel of six men and six women after four and a half days of arguments and over 15 hours of deliberation.
Details of the Incident
The victim, a 29-year-old attorney, testified about her encounter with Crosbie. She met Liam O’Brien, Crosbie’s colleague, at The Black Rose bar. She agreed to go back to the Omni Parker Hotel with O’Brien, unaware that Crosbie was sharing the room.
After having consensual sex with O’Brien, the victim testified she went to the bathroom, leaving the light on. Upon returning, she found O’Brien asleep in one bed. She then crawled into the other bed, intending to sleep.
Assault Description
The victim recalled waking up to an unknown man raping her. Crosbie allegedly told her she “liked it” and implied that O’Brien could not satisfy her. The victim described her struggle to escape and her immediate reaction afterward, including texting a friend and going to the hospital to report the assault.
Crosbie’s Defense
Crosbie denied the allegations, claiming he had never touched the victim. He stated that he left the room when the victim arrived with O’Brien and found the room empty upon his return.
The defense team tried to cast doubt on the victim’s recollection. They pointed out her alcohol consumption and psychiatric medication. Crosbie pointed out inconsistencies, such as her inability to recall O’Brien’s last name and her description of her assailant.
Legal Proceedings
This conviction comes after a previous trial resulted in a hung jury. A sentencing hearing for Crosbie is scheduled for October 30th, where he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Prosecution’s Argument
Prosecutors highlighted Crosbie’s behavior during police questioning and inconsistencies in his testimony. Notably, DNA evidence showed the presence of two male contributors on the victim, one confirmed as O’Brien. The other contributor’s identity remains unknown.
Assistant District Attorney Erin Murphy emphasized that the victim’s memory gaps were not detrimental to her credibility. In contrast, defense attorney Daniel C. Reilly insisted that the victim was unreliable and reminded jurors of the high burden of proof required for a conviction.
