Rape Suspect Who Cross-Examined Victim Found Guilty, Will Seek New Trial

Jan. 21, 2011 — -- Luis Munuzuri Harris, the accused rapist who personally grilled his victim about the sex attack while acting as his own lawyer, has been found guilty but plans to appeal -- raising the possibility his victim will have to retell the ordeal again.

After 10 hours of deliberations Thursday, a Tampa jury found the convicted felon guilty of sexual battery, grand theft, kidnapping, impersonating a police officer, fraudulent use of personal information and fraudulent use of a credit card.

The charges stem from a July 2010 night when Harris drove along Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa impersonating an undercover narcotics officer. He pulled over the woman and raped her.

The woman's name is being withheld because she is a victim of a sex crime.

The trial ended in flayboyant fashion, much like it began. Both Harris and the woman he was found guilty of raping sobbed at the reading of the verdict.

During closing arguments, Judge Chet A. Tharpe ordered bailiffs to forcibly remove Harris from the courtroom when he began shouting. Pointing at jurors, Harris hurled accusations about the rape victim's arrest record and yelled, "I'm not waiving speedy trial." Bailiffs covered Harris' mouth with their hands as they exited the courtroom.

Harris, 31, is expected to be sentenced Feb. 17.

"The sentence is still pending. Our representation of Harris is still pending. It's safe to say that we will appeal," Tampa Public Defender Charles Traina said.

Traina wouldn't comment on the grounds that he and his client will appeal the verdict, but another member of his defense team made a remark during closing arguments that Harris' choice to act as his own defense attorney might have hurt his case.

"Mr. Harris chose to represent himself at the start of this case and although that may not have been the smartest decision he is not on trial to test his common sense or his intelligence," attorney Maria Pavlidis said.

At the start of his trial Jan. 10, Harris fired his appointed defenders, choosing to represent himself. Acting as his own attorney, he was allowed to cross-examine the woman he is now guilty of raping.

For more than two hours, Harris questioned the rape victim about the night of the crime, asking her personal questions such as whether she wore underwear.