By Alexandra Zayas, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Luis Munuzuri-Harris is seated in court with assistant public defender Chuck Traina and public defender Maria Pavlidis Thursday.
TAMPA — The Bayshore rape trial will continue.
Circuit Judge Chet A. Tharpe denied the request of the defendant, Luis Munuzuri-Harris, who wanted to declare a mistrial after he gave up his attempt to defend himself Wednesday.
"I think this is a deliberate attempt on Mr. Harris' decision not to go to trial with the jury he himself has picked," Tharpe said Thursday afternoon.
Tharpe also felt the victim shouldn't have to suffer through another round of questioning.
The 28-year-old victim already had to answer the questions of Harris, who she said posed as a cop, pulled her over, and robbed and raped her along Bayshore Boulevard. If there was a new trial, she would have had to take the stand again ...