Cooper Ouellette trial opens in New Britain court

Superior Court Judge Chris Pelosi opened the trial of Cooper Ouellette in New Britain on Thursday morning. The 21-year-old from Harwinton stands accused of first-degree manslaughter in the death of Sophie Ringquist. Prosecutors also charged him with delivery of alcohol to a minor. Ouellette, dressed in a dark suit jacket and a light-colored shirt, sat beside his attorneys, Martin Minella and Jonathan Raad, as the jury entered the room.

The court heard from Lynne Ringquist, the victim's mother, as the first witness for the state. She testified that she was in her living room around 11:50 p.m. on May 20, 2023, when Ouellette arrived at her home. He told her, "Something's wrong with Sophie, I don’t know what’s wrong with Sophie." Lynne Ringquist said she went outside to Ouellette's truck and found her daughter slumped over. She described the 17-year-old as limp and lifeless. The mother laid her daughter on the ground and called for her husband and son to help.

Ouellette told the family that Ringquist had fallen out of the truck. He also said she had been drinking and felt sick. The prosecution played surveillance video from the home during the testimony. The jury viewed the footage on a television screen facing their box. The back of the screen faced the public gallery. Screens at the attorneys' tables were removed to hide the images from observers. The video was also excluded from the court's livestream.

Prosecutors relied on digital evidence to reconstruct the night. The arrest warrant cited text messages and Snapchat data from Ringquist. One text sent to a friend read, "I'm scared." The warrant stated that the couple had been arguing at a party in Terryville. They left together in Ouellette's truck. While driving, the truck door opened. The warrant said Ouellette suddenly stomped on the gas pedal. This action caused Ringquist to fall to the ground.

Police believe Ouellette dragged Ringquist back inside the vehicle. He then drove her to her home. He repositioned her body before going inside to ask for help. Connecticut State Police analyzed Life360 data from both phones. The New England State Police Information Network reviewed the location data. Ouellette's defense has challenged the reliability of that specific evidence.

Judge Pelosi instructed the six-person jury on their role. He told them they are the sole judges of witness credibility. He directed them to keep an open mind until after closing arguments. The judge warned the jury to watch for unconscious bias. He asked them to examine their thought processes thoroughly to identify reflexive gut reactions. He told them to ask if they would view the evidence differently if the attorneys or parties had different personal characteristics.

The jury was sworn in before the charges were read. The charges include intentionally giving liquor to Ringquist. They also include engaging in assaultive behavior and unlocking the car door. These actions allegedly caused crushing injuries. Judge Pelosi referred to the victim as Sophie R during the instructions. The judge told the jury not to discuss the case with each other until deliberations begin.

The trial is expected to last about two weeks. Ouellette is free on a $50,000 bond. His legal team is from the firm Minnella & Tramuta. Martin Minella previously represented Nathan Carman in a separate Connecticut case. That case involved a murder plot during a fishing trip off Block Island.

The next step in the proceedings is the continued examination of witnesses. The defense has not yet presented its opening statement. The court will continue to review the digital evidence that prosecutors say proves the sequence of events that night.