Gilberto Valle, Cannibal Cop, Stands Trial

Gilberto Valle, the cop who allegedly had plans to kill and cannibalize a list of women, began his trial in New York City this week.

Valle, known as the “Cannibal Cop,” is a former New York City police officer who is being charged with the intent to kidnap, kill and consume women, including his new wife. His defense relies on the concept that Valle’s only crime was a fetish for cannibal porn – something not punishable by law. The prosecution believes that at some point in Valle’s Internet chats his fantasy became something he was intent on making a reality.

Held in prison since October without bail, Valle’s proclivities were reported to the police by his wife after she stumbled upon web searches and emails. While she initially found his visits to pornographic sites featuring the pictures of dead women disturbing, it wasn’t until she found her name cropping up in correspondence with like-fetishizing men that she took their child and fled.

Authorities, in an attempt to separate what was largely fantasy from what appeared to be actual plans, have built their case on 40 emails that they believe exhibit intent to cook and kill. However, emails that were categorized as fantasy all featured Valle discussing cooking women, a fact that's going undisputed by the prosecution. Defense attorney Robert Baum repeatedly wedged prosecutor Corey Walsh into a corner about the line between words and actions, and what qualifies as a legitimate threat to the public.

While Valle’s tastes in fantasies churn even the strongest of stomachs, no evidence has been revealed as of yet that indicates he actually did anything more than talk. “No women who are mentioned in the chats were kidnapped?” asked Baum of the prosecution. “Were tortured? Raped? Or cooked?”

Walsh replied, “Thankfully, no.” And although it is good news that no women were injured as a result of Valle’s thoughts, it’s not exactly good news for the prosecution’s case.