Hossu Trial Begins in Putnam County
After months of anticipation, the rape case against Alexandru Hossu began Thursday morning with opening statements, as a Westchester County prosecutor described how Hossu twice raped a 13-year-old girl, while the defense claimed there isn’t a shred of evidence to prove Hossu’s guilt.
Westchester County Assistant District Attorney Fredric Green said in his opening statement the victim, who lives in Brewster, was raped in her home on her bed, “in a place where she should have been safe.” He went on to say Hossu used his strength and power to hold the young girl down while he penetrated her twice on an October 2010 night.
Hossu was arrested in March 2013 and charged with two counts each of 1st degree rape and 2nd degree rape and one count of endangering the welfare of a minor. Hossu, 36, was the former live-in personal trainer of Putnam County District Attorney Adam Levy. Levy recused his office from the prosecution, which is why Westchester is handling the case.
On the October night of the alleged attack, Green detailed how the victim was on her bed talking with Hossu, who was standing at the doorway and dating the alleged victim’s mother at the time. After the accuser said something “sassy” to Hossu, it “set him off” and led to the attack, Green stated.
After he was done with the rape, Green said Hossu threatened to kill the victim if she told anyone.
The evidence the prosecution would be presenting would come from an “assortment of witnesses.”
Lead defense attorney Daniel Mentzer, who is the brother-in-law of Levy, said, “Let me be perfectly clear, Alex Hossu did not rape anyone.”
Mentzer said every piece of evidence the prosecution would present would show Hossu is not guilty of the charges. He said an investigation didn’t even begin until after Hossu was already arrested, including the medical exam on the alleged victim.
“One person’s word, he gets arrested,” Mentzer said. “No investigation.”
Mentzer also stated the original night the accuser said she was raped, there are phone records showing she was on the phone for 43 minutes instead. He also pointed out, in a secret recorded phone conversation conducted by the county sheriff’s office, Hossu denied the attack when the accuser tried to coax a confession out of him.
The trial was adjourned after the victim’s aunt and legal guardian was on the witness stand for about an hour. The trial resumes Monday morning.
