NY- A mistrial was declared yesterday in the case against an NYPD detective accused of taking lewd photographs of two women, one the daughter of rocker David Bowie’s ex-wife.
After four days of deliberations, a Staten Island jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked on the charges against Detective Richard Vecchio, 40.
The outcome was not the end of the case for Vecchio, who had testified in his own defense but left court without comment. He will face a new trial on the misdemeanor misconduct charges, prosecutors said.
But it left one of the victims who had waited in the courtroom for a verdict in tears.
“I am disappointed and upset with [the jury]. They had the evidence right there,” insisted Kristina Sellers, 20.
Sellers and rape victim Stacia Lipka, 25, had gone public with their case against Vecchio.
Prosecutors charged that in 2004 Vecchio took 15 naked pictures of Lipka, whose mom Angela split with Bowie in 1980.
He also was accused of snapping a topless photo of Sellers after she was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident in 2003. She was later cleared.
According to prosecutors, the photos were found in Vecchio’s locker at the 123rd Precinct along with an X-rated magazine, a bottle of whisky and pictures of pop-tart Britney Spears.
A juror who declined to give her name said the panel was deadlocked 5-to-1 for acquittal.
She said the majority felt prosecutors had failed to prove a key element of the crime – that Vecchio received some personal benefit from taking the pictures.
Vecchio looked relieved outside Staten Island Criminal Court. The father of five was accompanied by his wife, Susan, throughout the trial.
“Naturally we are disappointed he was not acquitted, but we are gratified he was not convicted,” said Vecchio’s lawyer, Joseph LaMattina. “We feel he’ll be vindicated next time.”
Lipka, who now lives in California, could not be reached for comment.
Her lawyer, Jason Leventhal Jr., said: “We regret that this jury wasn’t given the complete picture of who Detective Vecchio is. His abuse of power and perverted behavior has disgraced the NYPD and violated the rights of our clients.”
Both Lipka and Sellers are pursuing a civil lawsuit against the NYPD and the city, seeking unspecified money damages.