My correspondent told me that jury selection did begin on Monday.

According to police, issued to the media, at the time:

• A WB driver crossed over into the EB lane and collided head-on and killed Russell Jenkins
• “The rider…  had a working headlight on his bike”
• “The surviving cyclists … reported that Foshee had a strong odor of alcohol”
• “The driver fled the scene, but the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit later arrested Gary Foshe [Foshee], 53″
• “two deputies reported that Foshee had a strong odor of alcohol and several signs of intoxication”

The defendant’s prior DUI conviction, as well as his blood test results are likely to be key factors. On the other hand, the issue of the victim’s posthumous blood test results is, from what i can tell, irrelevant because it did not affect the crash in any way.

Much more background here and here.

The manslaughter and endangerment trial of Gary Foshee in connection with a fatal traffic collision in August of 2009 has been delayed again and again and again.

Trial was originally set for 5/24/2010; however it was reset because “Defendant needs additional time for expert to complete investigation…” (this was 9 months after the incident), so was first delayed to 7/26/2010.

Then for some reason that was delayed.

Then the trial set for 9/28/2010 was missed: “Defense counsel orally moves to continue the Trial. Defense counsel’s expert witness will not be available to testify at the Evidentiary Hearing…”.

Then there’s a whole bunch more motions and case minutes.

The case minute dated 5/16/2011 which re-sets the pre-trial conference to 5/18/2011, at which time i suppose the trial date will get set (again). “Due to the unavailability of Defense witness”. Trial was then set for August 15, 2011 (! exactly 2 years after the incident).

Oops, another delay  (for seemingly unspecified reasons by the state; the defense did not object), make that trial date of 10/4/2011.

Oops Oops again another delay  (again, for seemingly unspecified reasons by the state; the defense did not object): new trial date 11/28/2011.

Oops, oops, another delay, another new trial date “The Court finds that delay is indispensable to the interests of justice… A defense expert is not available. IT IS ORDERED granting the Motion to Continue … resetting the trial to January 23, 2012“.

Some background information and media reports about the incident which occurred 8/15/2009: Queen Creek hit-and-run; driver arrested

The Foshee trial is the only criminal case remaining involving a cyclist fatality for the 2009 calendar year. You can track court proceedings at publicaccess.

Here’s the latest bit of upcoming wrangling: Evidentiary Hearing re: State’s Motion in Limine to
Preclude Any Mention of Victim’s Blood and Oral Argument re: State’s Motion in Limine
to Preclude Defense Witness for April 13, 2011 at 9:30 a.m

The prosecution has dropped the DUI charge (back in March), so I’m not sure what’s what with that — that leaves the manslaughter and 2x endangerment charges going forward.

Another Delay, and two blows against the defense

There was some sort of hearing April 18 with a bunch of substantive rulings. Defense counsel’s Motion to Continue Trial due to the unavailability of a witness was granted, trial now to start May 16, 2011. And in two blows against the defense, the Defendant’s prior DUI conviction will be admissible, and the Victim’s tox results will be excluded.

IT IS ORDERED granting the Motion and the Defendant’s prior DUI conviction is admissible

IT IS ORDERED granting the State’s Motion and excluding the Victim’s Toxicology Results.

And the defense loses AGAIN on 6/17 minute entry:

IT IS ORDERED denying Defendant’s Motion of Reconsideration. The transcript provided of Dr. Lyons does not establish impairment of the victim; only that he could have been impaired

…

here are some blog posts about the “ghost bike” memorial:

• queencreekevolves.blogspot.com
• www.bygonebicyclist.com
• azroadsidememorials.wordpress.com

For starters, one victim, a motorist, dead. A number of injured motorists. The suspect, locked up since the crash on December 24, 2007.

Christopher Lee Smith, 32 years old, stands accused of DUI and manslaughter in a wrong-way, head-on collision on Pecos Road near 14th Street in Phoenix, AZ.

According to the Ahwatukee Foothills news story; “At the time of the crash, Smith was on probation for a previous misdemeanor DUI…”

Superior Court case number CR2008-102616 or search on supremecourt.az.gov

The “Sleep Driving” defense?

The so-called “sleep driving” defense may be employed, see e.g. this minute entry “Defense expert witness re sleep driving is discussed”

Trial delayed again due to a death in one of the victim’s family. The AFN is reporting (Oct 30, 2009? but i can’t find online) that the defendant has rejected a plea deal (no details given) and trial is scheduled for February 2010. The defendant remains incarcerated.

The Trial and Guilty Verdict

Trial coverage. Verdict, guilty. 2nd Degree Murder, and 3x aggravated assault.

Sleep driving. Sleep driving? SLEEP DRIVING!? What will the defense lawyers think of next? Does this ever really work? “…But defense attorney Charles Shell told the same jury that the tragedy was not his client’s fault because Smith was driving in his sleep and was unaware of what he was doing”, “An expert witness hired by the defense, Dr. Dave Gaither of Illinois, testified that if Smith had gone to sleep first, then he was probably sleep driving and unaware of what he was doing.” Hmm, what kind of doctor? apparently not a physician.

Sentencing

Wrong-way Christmas Eve driver sentenced to 23.5 years in prison. The print edition, which strangely varied from the online version, and was much longer.

“he asked for the minimum 16 years, base upon the fact that Smith was on probation at the time for endangerment stemming from a Tempe incident where he reused to pull over of a police officer, then drove toward the officer requiring him to jump out of the way and later attempted to flee on foot…” “smith also had an extensive juvenile court record and a previous DUI”. “In sentencing Smith, Myers gave him 16 years for the second-degree murder of Vo, and 7.5 years for each of the three aggravated assaults…Myers ordered that the murder time be served first and that the three aggravated  assault terms could run concurrently. Smith plans to appeal the jury’s verdict”. [court minute entry on sentencing]