Credibility

Defendant appealed the decision of the trial judge sustaining the violation of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-13-4 (obedience to devices). The defendant argued that the trial judge was clearly erroneous in finding that the defendant went through a red light causing an accident. The Panel explained that the trier of fact assesses the credibility of witnesses and that although all of the parties involved in the accident claimed they had a green light, the trial judge did not abuse his discretion when he chose to credit the testimony of the other two witnesses instead of the testimony of Defendant.  Accordingly, the Panel sustained the charged violation.

City of Woonsocket v. Deborah J. Freeman, C.A. No. M11-0027 (August 12, 2012).pdf