The entire trial will be broadcast live on CourtTV ...
Following is a brief overview of the case based on my readings and what I have seen on television. Here is a LINK if anyone wants to read more in depth about it.
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The Crime
A Texas woman was driving home from a dance club when she struck a homeless man causing him to fly through her windshield head-first and become stuck with his upper torso inside the car and the rest of his body on the hood of the car.
She proceeded to drive on home and park her car in the garage with the badly injured man still stuck in her windshield. She then went into her home where she allegedly had sex with her boyfriend. She never called 911 or attempted first aid on the man, despite being a certified nurse's aide. She did, however, make several visits to the garage to check on the man -- who lived for several hours after the accident.
After the man died, she called two male friends who came over and disposed of the body in a nearby park.
The Witnesses
A female acquaintance of the defendant's went to police after the defendant gigglingly told a group of friends she could not be designated driver for their night out because she had "hit this white man" and he went through her windshield. She went on to say she was drunk and on Ecstasy at the time of the accident.
The Evidence
1. The defendant confessed in her statement to police after being arrested
2. The defendant's car was found hidden in her garage with the windshield smashed and the seats removed
3. Forensic evidence includes blood, hair and tissue from the victim in the defendant's car
4. The Coroner determined the victim would have lived had he received medical attention and listed the cause of death as bleeding to death as a result of his wounds
The Defense
The woman's lawyers claim this is not a murder but simply a situation involving "a frightened, emotionally distraught young woman who had an accident, panicked and made a wrong choice. Then she called some friends who led her down the wrong path."
Opinions
Top defense lawyer Geoffrey Fieger, appearing as a guest on Greta VonSustern's "On the Record" opined this should definitely be classified a murder since the woman was aware of her actions, made no effort to get help, engaged in a cover-up and bragged to others about what she had done.
Defense attorney Jayne Weintraub, appearing on the same show, disagreed saying it was not a murder because the defendant did not hit the man on purpose.
My opinion is she is guilty of 2nd degree murder, attempting to cover up a crime, tampering with evidence, failure to stop at an accident scene, hit and run, drunk driving and maybe more. But, I am afraid some attorney who cares more about money than justice will find some loophole and get her off on a technicality ... perhaps plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for dropping the murder charge.
