NYC neurologist described as ‘evil in a white coat’ as trial begins on rape, assault charges

A disgraced Manhattan neurologist accused of groping and sexually assaulting six feminine sufferers is lastly going through a jury.

Ricardo Cruciani, 67, went on trial in Manhattan Supreme Court docket Monday on rape, sexual abuse and predatory sexual assault costs — greater than 4 years after his arrest.

“Evil in a white coat,” is how Assistant District Lawyer Shannon Lucey described Cruciani to the jury, calling him, “A small devious man who might have used his extremely smart methods for good as a substitute of unhealthy.”

The six alleged victims — “damaged and sophisticated” girls — will all testify on the trial, which is predicted to final by means of the tip of July.

“You will notice that every had a historical past, a demeanor, a damaged previous that made them his good sufferer,” Lucey stated in her opening assertion. “He constructed belief in every of them. He pathologically bought to know their weaknesses, their vulnerabilities.”

Cruciani was accused of utilizing his medical abilities to extract sexual favors from as many as 17 girls for greater than a decade, police stated when he was arrested.

Ricardo Cruciani, 67, has been accused by 17 girls of utilizing his medical abilities as a neurologist to sexually assault them.

Alec Tabak

Assistant District Lawyer Shannon Lucey described Cruciani to the jury as “Evil in a white coat.”

AP

As soon as a distinguished physician, he served as chairman of the neurology division at Drexel College, earlier than the allegations in opposition to him started surfacing.

The ladies claimed Cruciani fondled, molested and engaged in sexual acts with the ladies at Drexel, Capital Well being Medical Heart in New Jersey and at his Beth Israel Medical Heart follow in New York.

The alleged victims within the Manhattan case have been all sufferers at his Beth Israel follow.

Protection lawyer Fred Sosinsky stated throughout opening statements that his shopper’s accusers can be confirmed to be unreliable.

“There are excellent, certainly unbelievable causes, to doubt the accusations on this case,” Sosinsky informed jurors. “Every of the witnesses are taking part in quick and unfastened with dates, months and years and accounts and tales.

Greater than 4 years after his arrest, Cruciani went on path in Manhattan Supreme Court docket on Monday for rape, sexual abuse and predatory sexual assault costs.

Alec Tabak

“All these items supposedly passed off in a busy, crowded workplace on 14th Avenue and Union Sq.,” he stated.

Cruciani had been free pending his trial.