Thread: Trial in hot-button drunk driving case to start

Trial in hot-button drunk driving case to start

By Justin Jouvenal, Sunday, October 30, 4:09 PM

When an illegal immigrant was accused last year of driving drunk and causing a crash in Prince William County that killed a nun, the case unleashed a wave of anger and became a touchstone for supporters of stricter immigration enforcement.

With the murder trial of Carlos Martinelly-Montano set to begin in the county’s Circuit Court on Monday, the political reverberations of the case are still playing out and will probably do so long after the verdict is read.

“The case has become a hallmark,â€

Guilty pleas expected to some charges in nun's death
By: Kari Pugh , Amanda Stewart
Published: October 29, 2011

BRISTOW --
An illegal immigrant charged in an August 2010 crash that killed a Richmond-based nun is expected to plead guilty to charges that include involuntary manslaughter, two counts of maiming as a result of driving while intoxicated, driving on a suspended or revoked license and a third DUI offense within five years.

Carlos Martinelly Montano still faces a trial before a judge on a charge of felony murder in connection with the head-on crash with three Benedictine sisters who were traveling to a Prince William County monastery from Richmond.

Sister Denise Mosier, 66, was killed. Two others, Sister Charlotte Lange, then 75, and Sister Connie Ruth Lupton, then 70, were seriously injured.

Martinelly was set to go on trial before a jury Monday on felony murder and a host of other charges in connection with the crash on Bristow Road.

At a hearing Friday, Prince William County Circuit Court Judge Lon E. Farris said Martinelly had opted for a nonjury trial on the felony murder charge.

"At this point, it's believed the other charges will be disposed of pursuant to a plea, but details are being worked out," Farris said.

The judge also ruled that broadcast television cameras can film the plea and opening and closing statements in the trial, but not the testimony itself. Still cameras will be allowed to document the entire hearing.

"This is the first time I will allow (broadcast) cameras in my courtroom," Farris said. "I understand the high level of interest in this case."

The Aug. 1 crash sparked an outpouring of support for the Benedictine sisters, well-known in the community for operating Linton Hall School, and several charity programs.

The crash also sparked a heated immigration debate.

Authorities say Martinelly is an illegal immigrant from Bolivia, who was in the deportation process when the crash occurred.

He had been convicted of drunken driving twice before, in December 2007 and October 2008, court records show, and had been released by immigration officials while he went through deportation proceedings.

The case led Prince William County to file suit against the Department of Homeland Security seeking information about thousands of illegal immigrants the county has turned over to the department.

In 2007, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors passed an ordinance that requires county police officers to check the immigration status of anyone they arrest.

If police find that they have arrested someone who is in the country illegally, they turn that person over to the department for deportation. To date, the county has turned over more than 4,000 people to DHS, according to a county news release.

After the crash, the Benedictine sisters asked for prayers for all involved in the crash, including Martinelly.

Martinelly has been held at the Prince William-Manassas Regional jail since his release from the hospital.

www2.wsls.com

Added to the Homepage
http://www.alipac.us/article6721.html