Baltimore hit-and-run case could be hard to prove

According to The Baltimore Sun, a hit-and-run suspect recently turned himself in to authorities to be held without bail. He has been formally charged with serious traffic violations related to the deaths of two teens in a June car accident.

While some make the case out to be a clear future conviction against the 28-year-old defendant, sources also suggest that the prosecution team has a difficult task in front of it. Solidifying a criminal conviction against the driver means that prosecutors will have to prove to the court that the suspect was, in fact, driving the car at the time of the deadly traffic offense.

Late on June 14, two teens, ages 16 and 17, were reportedly crossing a street when they were hit by a speeding car. The driver didn’t stop after the crash and left the scene of the car accident. Both of the crash victims didn’t survive their injuries. Their families have been waiting for an indictment in this case since their loss.

The male suspect has been charged with two counts of the following: automobile manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and DUI. He isn’t the only suspect wrapped up in this criminal case. A 26-year-old female was with the defendant at the time of the accident and is charged with being an accessory after the fact.

Based on reports, the female suspect in this case is where the prosecution strategy could get tough in the manslaughter case against the male defendant.

Reports indicate that a police officer pulled the duo’s car over after the accident had occurred. When he talked to the suspects the female was at the wheel, while the male suspect was in the passenger seat. Officials suspect that the pair switched seats after the crash. It will be interesting to see how the prosecution intends to prove that in order to convict the male defendant of manslaughter.

Both defendants have histories of traffic violations, suggesting that either one of them is just as likely as the other to have been driving at the time of the crash. When there are developments in this case, we will post an update.

Source

The Baltimore Sun: “1 arrested, 1 indicted in hit-and-run that killed two teens,” Peter Hermann, Sep. 20, 2011