A CA jury convicts an elderly driver on 10 manslaughter counts.

Описание: (20 Oct 2006) HEADLINE: Driver Guilty of Manslaughter in Calif.
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CAPTION: A Los Angeles jury convicted 89-year-old George Russell Weller of ten counts of felony manslaughter Friday, for a 2003 farmer's market crash that killed ten people. (oct. 20)
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[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]


SOT: Yolanda Hernandez, Juror
"Probably, the older you are, it's going to be a little more time for you to react naturally. But I do feel that he still had plenty of time to react and to make better choices than the ones that he did."

That's the view of jurors in Los Angeles Friday.

They say eighty-nine-year-old George Weller is guilty of manslaughter AND gross negligence for a deadly accident here three years ago.
Ten people were killed and 70 injured in July 2003 when Weller's car slammed into a farmers market in Santa Monica.

Defense attorneys said Weller panicked and mistook the car's accelerator for a brake pedal.
But prosecutors said he showed no remorse for the crash. Jurors seemed to agree.
After the verdict Friday, they pointed to a video tape -- made by police questioning Weller soon after the crash.
Jurors said Weller seemed to show little or no remorse.
They said Weller could have, should have tried to avoid the crash.
SOT: Yolanda Hernandez, juror.
"He had 240 feet before he came to the barricade of the farmer's market. That's a long way. That's a long way, and he went a thousand feet before he stopped."
SOT: Simon Magtibay, juror.
"Well in fact, before he turned onto Arizona (Ave), he knows there's a farmer's market there. He knows that there's a pack of people there. So, he's aware of that."
The district attorney said no matter what the age, Weller, like any driver, is responsible for their actions.
SOT: Ann Ambrose, Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County.
"Clearly, anyone who makes the decision to get behind the wheel of a car has to take responsibility for their actions once they are behind the wheel of a car. And that includes Mr. Weller."
Weller, who is in frail health, was not in court today to hear the verdict. He faces a maximum of 18 years in prison. Family members of victims are expected to testify during the sentencing phase of the case.


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