Jan 9, 2008 3:00 pm US/Eastern
'Most Eligible Bachelor' Trial Details Attack
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Gary Zerola listens as his alleged attempted rape victim testifies against him in court.
WBZ
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Prosecutors say Zerola, 36, attacked a 19-year-old college student in his Boston apartment in August 2006.
Miami-Dade Corrections Dept.
A Boston lawyer who was once listed as one of People Magazine's "Most Eligible Bachelors" and tried out for the reality show "The Bachelor" is now on trial for attempted rape.
Prosecutors say Gary Zerola, 36, attacked a then-19-year-old college student in his Boston apartment in August 2006.
In opening statements Wednesday, Suffolk County Prosecutor Suzanne Kontz said Zerola met the victim in a Boston night club one month before the alleged attack. After texting each other for about a month, the two went on their first date.
Kontz alleges that Zerola used money to impress the victim -- buying her a Dolce and Gabbana dress and then taking her out to dinner.
According to the victim, the two returned to Zerola's apartment, where he tried to convince her to have sex with him.
Kontz said when the victim refused, Zerola would not let her leave. He allegedly slammed her head against a wall and tore her dress off. "He made the decision to use force, and tried to take sex from her," Kontz said.
The young woman called 911 and was able to escape when Zerola saw that police had arrived.
Zerola's defense attorney, Janice Bassil, told jurors the victim is a habitual liar who made up the story after the two had an argument. "She couldn't tell the truth if her life depended upon it, let alone Gary Zerola's life," said Bassil, who claims the victim has changed her story several times.
Zerola is facing a second charge in Boston involving another 19-year-old woman and a third charge in Florida, where officials say he force-fed drugs to an 18-year-old and then raped her in a Miami Beach hotel while free on bail in the Massachusetts assaults.
He denies having sex with the Florida victim.
Zerola worked as a state prosecutor on child abuse and domestic violence cases. He was also well-known in philanthropic circles as an advocate for foster children.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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