Negligent Homicide trial begins today...

[DickHead]

...for Josie Johnson's murder.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=141822

[Fuzzy TheBikeGuy]

We'll see if "Justice" is actually a false concept.

[accadacca]

What a sad story. :(

[DickHead]

Jury finds woman guilty in '04 death of cyclist




Salt Lake Tribune



WEST JORDAN -- A woman who struck and killed a bicyclist in Big Cottonwood Canyon last year has been found guilty of negligent homicide.
A 3rd District Court jury returned the verdict against Elizabeth DeSeelhorst Thursday afternoon following about five hours of deliberation.
DeSeelhorst, 67, faces up to a year in jail when she is sentenced by Judge Royal Hansen.
Despite a defense strategy that sought to lay the blame for the crash on her history of mini-strokes, the jury decided that DeSeelhorst was criminally negligent when she struck and killed 25-year-old Josie Johnson on Sept. 18, 2004, crash
The incident prompted a highly vocal outcry in Utah's cycling community, which has complained for years about motorists'
inattentiveness to cyclists.

[accadacca]

So whats the whole story from anyone who knows. Did they know each other? What was the motive?

[Udink]

So whats the whole story from anyone who knows. Did they know each other? What was the motive?

From the comments by previous posters, you'd think this was first-degree, premeditated murder. But from what I've gathered from the news stories, the old lady simply wasn't paying attention and didn't see the cyclist. If that's the case, it sounds like she got what was coming to her--a finding of guilt for negligent homicide.

[TreeHugger]

There is a thread on the UMB site that talks about the case and the last memorial ride. The woman (who's husband is the owner of Solitude, btw) hit her point blank, no brakes at all. The defense said she had a mini-stroke. We will wait to see what her sentence is. I think this sends a solid message to motorists to watch out for cyclists or they will be held accountable for their negligence - that's a good thing.