Statement from Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin regarding today's decision in Tempest v. State of Rhode Island:
"Clearly, we are disappointed in the outcome in this action for post conviction relief. While we continue to evaluate the decision in depth, with all due respect to the Court, we disagree with the outcome, and we fully intend to appeal today's decision to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
Legal meanderings aside, we cannot forget that a young woman was brutally murdered, and her family still grieves her loss every day. I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to the Picard family for their patience and graciousness throughout this long, arduous, and often painful process. I would also like to extend great praise to the team of attorneys – Assistant Attorneys General J. Patrick Youngs and Christopher Bush and Special Assistant Attorney General Jeanine McConaghy - from my Office who worked tirelessly on this case for several months, spending countless nights and weekends preparing for this case. I am extremely proud of the work they did on this case and remain confident that we will prevail on appeal."