By Alexandra Zayas, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, January 13, 2011
TAMPA — The fourth day of a dramatic rape trial begins Thursday with a looming question: Will it even continue?
Luis Munuzuri-Harris, 31, is accused of posing as a cop, pulling a woman over, robbing and raping her along Bayshore Boulevard in July. He chose to represent himself as his own attorney during the trial this week, during which he grilled the woman he's accused of raping and made a series of courtroom blunders that resulted in several harsh admonishments from Circuit Judge Chet A. Tharpe.
On Wednesday, Harris decided he wants an attorney to represent him after all. This and other new developments in the case, accusations by prosecutors that Harris may have tampered with a witness, could prompt a mistrial.
Tharpe did not decide Wednesday but might announce his decision today. He said he was concerned for the ...