NYPD Officers' Rape Trial Set to Open Monday

NEW YORK (AP) — Two New York City police officers are poised to go on trial on charges of raping a woman they were summoned to help get home.

Opening statements are expected Monday in the trial of Officers Kenneth Moreno and Franklin Mata (MAH'-tuh.)

They deny doing anything criminal in their December 2008 encounter with the 27-year-old woman.

Mata and Moreno responded when a cabbie reported she was too drunk to get out of his taxi. Prosecutors say Moreno then raped her in her Manhattan apartment, and Mata acted as a lookout. Both face rape and other charges.

The woman later secretly taped a conversation with Moreno. He said "nothing happened" but also said "yes" when asked whether he'd used a condom. His lawyer says Moreno was just trying to appease the woman.