State of Delaware v. Pardo. ( 2015 )

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
STATE OF DELAWARE )
)
v. ) I.D. No. 1409011585
)
GABRIEL PARDO, )
Defendant. )
Submitted: October 28, 2015
Decided: November 9, 2015
Upon Defendant’s Motion for New Trial
DENIED
Upon Defendant’s Motion for Judgment of Acquittal
DENIED
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Sean P. Lugg, Esquire, and Eric H. Zubrow, Esquire, Department of Justice,
Wilmington, DE, Attorneys for the State of Delaware.
Joseph A. Hurley, Esquire, Wilmington, DE, Attorney for Defendant.
Rocanelli, J.
Defendant Gabriel Pardo was convicted of Manslaughter, Leaving the Scene
of a Collision Resulting in Death (“Leaving the Scene”), Reckless Driving, and six
counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child after a nine-day non-jury trial. At
the start of the trial, Defendant made a motion to dismiss the charge of Leaving the
Scene on the grounds that the statute making it a crime for a driver to leave the
scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death (“LSCRD Statute”) 1 is
unconstitutional.2 At the conclusion of the trial, the Trial Court made findings of
fact pursuant to Rule 23(c) of the Delaware Superior Court Rules of Criminal
Procedure, denied Defendant’s motion to dismiss, and found Defendant guilty of
all charges. 3 Sentencing is scheduled for November 20, 2015.
On October 7, 2015, Defendant filed a motion for a new trial as to the
conviction for Leaving the Scene and a motion for judgment of acquittal as to
convictions for all charges except Reckless Driving.4 The State filed responses in
opposition to Defendant’s motions. This is the Court’s ruling on Defendant’s
motions for a new trial and for judgment of acquittal.
I. Defendant’s Motion for a New Trial
1
21 Del. C. § 4202(a).
2
On September 22, 2015, the day Defendant’s non-jury trial began, Defendant filed a motion to
dismiss the charge of Leaving the Scene.2 On September 24, 2015, Defendant filed a
Memorandum of Law with the Court to supplement his legal arguments.
3
On October 2, 2015, the Trial Court made findings of fact, stated its conclusions of law, and
rendered a verdict of guilty on all charges. The Court also denied Defendant’s motion to dismiss
the charge of Leaving the Scene. The Court adopts those findings here.
1
The LCSRD Statute affirmatively places the responsibility on a driver
involved in a collision to stop and inquire at the scene of the accident whether
anyone was injured or killed. 5 The Delaware legislature categorizes this crime as a
felony offense and requires that minimum mandatory jail time of at least 6 months
be imposed for convictions.6
According to Defendant, the LSCRD Statute is unconstitutional because
minimum mandatory prison time must be imposed for a conviction even though
the State does not have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant had a
certain mental state or mens rea. According to Defendant, such a strict liability
statute is unconstitutional. The State opposes Defendant’s motion for a new trial
on the grounds that the LSCRD Statute is constitutional on its face and as applied
to Defendant.
A. The LCSRD Statute is constitutional on its face and as applied to
Defendant.
As the LSCRD Statute is written, intent is not an element of the offense.
Nevertheless, the LSCRD Statute is constitutional for the following reasons:
5
21 Del. C. § 4202(a).
6
21 Del. C. § 4202(c).
2
(1) Legislation, such as the LSCRD Statute, is presumed constitutional;7
and any and all reasonable doubts as to the validity of the law must be resolved in
favor of the constitutionality of the legislation. 8
(2) The Delaware Supreme Court has held that the question of intent with
respect to statutory crimes is a decision for the legislature and the mere absence of
a state of mind element does not render a statute unconstitutional.9 Rather,
according to the Delaware Supreme Court, “a violation of the statute may itself
constitute the offense and furnish the intent.” 10
(3) The United States Supreme Court has applied a two-prong test to
determine whether a strict liability offense violates a defendant’s due process
rights.11 Under the test laid out in Morissette, “a strict liability offense is not
deemed to violate the due process clause where (1) the penalty is relatively small,
and (2) where conviction does not gravely besmirch a defendant’s reputation.”12
The two-prong test is satisfied here because a six-month minimum mandatory
prison term is a relatively small penalty and a conviction for this offense is not
such that a defendant’s reputation would be “gravely besmirched.”
7
Shapira v. Christiana Care Health Servs., Inc., 99 A.3d 217, 223 (Del. 2014) (citing Hoover v.
State, 958 A.2d 816, 821 (Del. 2008)); Taylor v. State, 76 A.3d 791, 797 (Del. 2013). See also
Snell v. Engineered Sys. & Designs, Inc., 669 A.2d 13, 17 (Del. 1995) (finding that Delaware has
a “strong judicial tradition” that supports the constitutionality of legislation).
8
Hoover, 958 A.2d at 821 (citing McDade v. State, 693 A.2d 1062, 1065 (Del. 1997)).
9
See Hoover, 958 A.2d at 821.
10
Id.11
See Morissette v. United States, 342 U.S. 246, 256 (1952).
12
Id.
3
(4) Although the Delaware Supreme Court has not addressed the
constitutionality of the LSCRD Statute directly, the Court has upheld the
constitutionality of Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing Death even though
incarceration may be imposed without a finding of a mental state.13 While the
LSCRD Statute is distinguishable from Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing
Death because the LSCRD Statute requires imposition of a minimum mandatory
term of imprisonment, in State v. Avila-Medina, the Delaware Supreme Court
surveyed the strict liability criminal laws of other states with significant penalties
that had been held constitutional and that analysis is applicable here.14
(5) The LSCRD Statute was enacted as a felony offense fourteen years ago,
and has not been declared unconstitutional. Although not solely dispositive of its
constitutionality, the Delaware Supreme Court has held that “[w]hen a statute has
been applied by courts and state agencies in a consistent way for a period of years,
then that is strong evidence in favor of that interpretation.” 15
(6) As the Delaware Supreme Court noted in Hoover, a statute lacking a
mental state may be constitutional where it is intended to provide for the safety and
welfare of the public, such as motor vehicle statutes. 16 As a motor vehicle offense,
13
See 21 Del. C. § 4176A.
14
See State v. Avila-Medina, 2009 WL 2581874, at *3 (Del. Super. Mar. 5, 2009)
15
State v. Barnes, 116 A.3d 883, 890 (Del. 2015).
16
Hoover, 958 A.2d at 822 (“In Morissette v. United States, the United States Supreme Court
held that statutes that relate to the public safety and welfare and that provide for the punishment
of a person who lacked intent to commit a crime do not violate due process.”).
4
the LSCRD Statute was enacted for public safety and therefore does not require a
specific state of mind for a finding of guilty.
Accordingly, for these reasons, the LSCRD Statute is constitutional as
written. Moreover, in the alternative, the LSCRD Statute is constitutional as
applied to Defendant. The record evidence presented at trial demonstrated beyond
a reasonable doubt that Defendant was the driver of a car that was involved in a
collision; that he knew he was in a collision; and that he knowingly and
intentionally left the scene of the collision without first determining whether
anyone was injured or killed. Defendant’s claim that he did not know he hit a
person is not relevant. Defendant conceded that he knew he had been in an
accident, and he admitted that he drove on without stopping. The requirement to
stop at the scene is not conditional upon whether the driver knew someone had
been injured or killed. Rather, public policy concerns mandate that drivers
involved in an accident are required to stop at the scene and determine whether a
person was injured or killed as a result of the accident. Therefore, due process is
satisfied as the LCSRD Statute is applied to Defendant on the facts established
beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 17
17
See 11 Del. C. § 251(a)-(c):
(a) No person may be found guilty of a criminal offense without proof that the person
had the state of mind required by the law defining the offense or by subsection (b)
of this section.
5
B. Defendant is not entitled to a new trial.
A Motion for New Trial may be granted upon a motion by the Defendant “if
required in the interest of justice.” 18 If the trial was without a jury, the Court may
“vacate the judgment if entered, take additional testimony and direct the entry of a
new judgment.” 19 A motion for a new trial is within the sound discretion of the
trial court.20 Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State,21 a
motion for new trial will not be granted “if there was some probative evidence
upon which a verdict of guilty could reasonably be based.” 22 The Court must
refrain from granting the motion unless the verdict “appears to be against the great
weight of the evidence.” 23
(b) When the state of mind sufficient to establish an element of an offense is not
prescribed by law, that element is established if a person acts intentionally,
knowingly or recklessly.
(c) It is unnecessary to prove the defendant’s state of mind with regard to: (1) Offenses
which constitute violations, unless a particular state of mind is included within the
definition of the offenses; or (2) Offenses defined by statutes other than this
Criminal Code, insofar as a legislative purpose to impose strict liability for such
offenses or with respect to any material element thereof plainly appears.
18
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 33 (A motion for a new trial based on grounds other than newly discovered
evidence shall be made within seven days of the verdict). Because Defendant filed his motion
for a new trial five days after the Court delivered its verdict, Defendant’s motion is timely.
19
Id.
20
State v. Rebarchak, 2002 WL 1587855, at *1 (Del. Super. June 20, 2002) (citing Hutchins v.
State, 153 A.2d 204 (Del.1959)).
21
Id. (citing Price v. State, 1996 WL 526013 (Del. Aug. 19, 1996)).
22
Id. (citing State v. Biter, 119 A.2d 894 (Del. Super. 1955)).
23
Id. (citing Storey v. Camper, 410 A.2d 458 (Del. 1979)).
6
With respect to the Court’s guilty verdict for Leaving the Scene, Defendant
contends that the Court “chose to rework, rewrite and amend” the Statute.24
Defendant is incorrect. The Court first ruled that the LSCRD Statue is
constitutional as written based on United States Supreme Court decisional law,
Delaware Supreme Court decisional law, and the legislative intent to protect public
safety. For the reasons stated, the strict liability standard meets constitutional
standards for the crime of Leaving the Scene. Only after the Court ruled that the
LSCRD Statue was constitutional on its face did the Court address the Statute as
applied to Defendant to find the Statute was constitutional as applied to Defendant
because Defendant acted knowingly. 25
The interest of justice does not entitle Defendant to a new trial. The
evidence demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that, on September 12, 2014,
Defendant operated a motor vehicle; while operating the motor vehicle, Defendant
was involved in a collision with Phillip Bishop; the collision resulted in the death
of Mr. Bishop; and Defendant failed to stop his vehicle immediately at the scene of
the collision.26 Accordingly, there was probative evidence upon which a verdict of
24
Defendant’s Mot. for a New Trial para. 1 (Oct. 7, 2015).
25
The Court also considered a Court of Common Pleas decision that held that a defendant must
“know” he was involved in an accident. See State v. McDonnell, 2006 WL 759703 at *2 (Del.
Com. Pl. Mar. 23, 2006).
26
See 21 Del. C. § 4202(a).
7
guilty for Leaving the Scene was reasonably based. Defendant is not entitled to a
new trial for the charge of Leaving the Scene.
II. Defendant’s Motion for Judgment of Acquittal
Defendant seeks a judgment of acquittal with respect to the convictions for
Manslaughter, Leaving the Scene, and six counts of Endangering the Welfare of a
Child. 27 Superior Court Criminal Procedural Rule 29 provides that a defendant
may move for an entry of judgment of acquittal for one or more charges if “the
evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction of such offense or offenses.”28
Defendant’s motion was filed in a timely manner.29
The standard of review for a motion for judgment of acquittal is whether any
rational trier of fact, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State,
could find a Defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of all the elements of the
27
Defendant has not filed a Motion for Judgment of Acquittal with respect to the conviction for
Reckless Driving. The Court adopts those findings here. Although it is not the subject of
Defendant’s motions, the Court found that the State satisfied its burden of proof as to Reckless
Driving, Count Nine of the Indictment, and the Court also found Defendant guilty of that charge.
28
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 29(a).
29
A motion for judgment of acquittal is governed by Rule 29 which provides that such motions
should be presented at the close of the State’s evidence or within seven (7) days after the fact-
finder is discharged.29 Because Defendant filed his Motion for Judgment of Acquittal five (5)
days after the Court delivered its verdict, Defendant’s Motion is timely.
8
crime. 30 The trier of fact does not distinguish between direct and circumstantial
evidence in making its determination. 31
A. The facts established at trial support the convictions.
As fact-finder, the Court followed the direction that we regularly give to our
juries when assessing the evidence and the credibility of witness testimony:
I must judge the believability of each witness and determine the
weight to be given to all trial testimony. I considered each witness’s
means of knowledge; strength of memory and opportunity for
observation; the reasonableness or unreasonableness of the testimony;
the motives actuating the witness; the fact, if it was a fact, the
testimony was contradicted; any bias, prejudice or interest, manner of
demeanor upon the witness stand; and all other facts and
circumstances shown by the evidence which affect the believability of
the testimony. After finding some testimony conflicting by reason of
inconsistencies, I have reconciled the testimony, as reasonably as
possible, so as to make one harmonious story of it all. To the extent I
could not do this, I gave credit to that portion of testimony which, in
my judgment, was most worthy of credit and disregarded any portion
of the testimony which, in my judgment, was unworthy of credit. 32
As fact-finder, the Court followed the instruction with respect to
recklessness agreed upon by the parties during the prayer conference:
“Recklessly” means that Defendant was aware of and consciously
disregarded a substantial and unjustifiable risk that victim’s death
would result from Defendant’s conduct. The State must demonstrate
that the risk was of such a nature and degree that Defendant’s
30
Williamson v. State, 113 A.3d 155, 158 (Del. 2015); Cline v. State, 720 A.2d 891, 892 (Del.
1998) (citing Davis v. State, 706 A.2d 523, 524 (Del. 1998); Monroe v. State, 652 A.2d 560, 563
(Del. 1995)).
31
Cline, 720 A.2d at 892 (citing Davis, 706 A.2d at 524; Hoey v. State, 689 A.2d 1177, 1181
(Del. 1997); Skinner v. State, 575 A.2d 1108, 1121 (Del. 1990)).
32
Dionisi v. DeCampli, 1995 WL 398536, *1 (Del. Ch. June 28, 1995).
9
disregard of it was a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that
a reasonable person would observe under the same circumstances.
Additionally, the Court considered statutory and decisional law addressing
recklessness. Specifically, the Delaware Code defines a reckless state of mind as
follows: “[a] person acts recklessly with respect to an element of an offense when
the person is aware of and consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable
risk that the element exists or will result from the conduct. The risk must be of
such a nature and degree that disregard thereof constitutes a gross deviation from
the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would observe in the situation. A
person who creates such a risk but is unaware thereof solely by reason of voluntary
intoxication also acts recklessly with respect thereto.” 33 Further, in Hamilton v.
State, the Delaware Supreme Court provided that an individual must be
“conscious” of a substantial and unjustifiable risk before the individual’s conduct
can be considered “reckless.” 34 The Court defined “conscious” as to “subjectively
know or fe[e]l.”35 The Delaware Superior Court, in a civil case, has defined
reckless conduct as “conscious indifference” that amounts to an “I don’t care
attitude.”36 The same court explained that reckless conduct occurs “when a person,
with no intent to cause harm, performs an act so unreasonable that he or she knows
33
11 Del. C. § 231; see also Hamilton v. State, 816 A.2d 770, 773 (Del. 2003) (following the
Delaware Code’s definition of reckless).
34
816 A.2d 770, 774.
35
Id.36
Williams v. Manning, 2009 WL 960670, at *17 (Del. Super. Mar. 13, 2009).
10
or should know that there is an imminent likelihood of damage or injury that can
result.”37
At trial, the State presented testimony of numerous witnesses, including Mr.
Bishop’s co-worker who saw Mr. Bishop leave work by bicycle on the night of the
accident; three witnesses who arrived at the scene of the accident; three police
officers, including an officer with expertise in accident reconstruction;38
Defendant’s co-worker who had dinner and alcoholic drinks with Defendant on the
day of the accident; the individual who served Defendant food and alcoholic drinks
prior to the accident; an employee from the DNA Unit of the Delaware Division of
Forensic Sciences who tested samples taken from the accident scene and
Defendant’s vehicle; Defendant’s ex-wife; and two of Defendant’s three children
who were passengers in the motor vehicle driven by Defendant at the time of the
accident. Additional evidence was also offered for the Court’s consideration by
the State, including Mr. Bishop’s damaged bicycle, as well as still photographs and
video depicting the crime scene and the damage to Defendant’s vehicle, and
autopsy photographs.
37
Id.38
With respect to the expert opinion offered by Cpl. Hussong, pursuant to Delaware Rule of
Evidence 702, the Court found Cpl. Hussong is a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge,
skill, experience, training and education and that the three-part test was likewise satisfied in that:
(1) the testimony was based on sufficient facts and data; (2) the testimony was the product of
reliable methods and principles; and (3) the witness applied the methods and principles reliably
to the facts of the case.
11
Defendant elected to present a defense. Defendant testified as a witness, and
also presented the testimony of his ex-wife and the accident reconstruction expert
as witnesses (both of whom were re-called by Defendant in his own case-in-chief).
Defendant also called three additional witnesses: a private investigator, an
individual who works on behalf of Defendant’s counsel, and an employee of Del
DOT. Additional evidence was also offered for the Court’s consideration by
Defendant, including still photographs, video, and drawings depicting the roadway
crime scene, as well as DELDOT incident reports.
In considering the evidence presented, assessing the evidence and the
credibility of witness testimony, the Court made findings of fact, in pertinent part,
as follows:
• On September 12, 2014, during a period of approximately three and a
half hours (from at about 3:30 p.m. until at about 7:00 p.m.),
Defendant consumed a meal, several glasses of water, one frozen
margarita, part of a second frozen margarita, three beers, and two
shots of tequila.
• After consuming the alcoholic beverages, Defendant operated a motor
vehicle in New Castle County, Delaware.
• Defendant was “under the influence” of alcohol at the time of the
accident.39
39
It is not an element of the offense of Manslaughter or any other offense with which Defendant
was charged that Defendant was impaired or intoxicated and the Court expressly stated that it did
not make a legal finding that Defendant was impaired or intoxicated at the time of the accident.
Rather, the Court found that, after consuming 6-7 alcoholic drinks prior to the operating a motor
12
• When driving upon Brackenville Road in the northbound lane at
approximately 8:30 p.m., Defendant’s three sons (ages five (5), eight
(8), and ten (10)) were in the vehicle.
• Brackenville Road is a two-way roadway. A double yellow line
divides the northbound and southbound lanes. There is ample space
in both directions to safely maneuver a vehicle within the lane of
travel. Several witnesses described Brackenville Road as dangerous,
including Defendant. Defendant was very familiar with the roadway.
• While driving on Brackenville Road, Defendant exceeded the posted
speed limit of thirty-five (35) miles per hour.
• Prior to the collision, Defendant’s sons expressed concern about
Defendant’s speed and expressed that Defendant was operating the
vehicle in a weaving fashion.
• At approximately 8:30 p.m., Defendant consciously and purposely
placed his vehicle over the double yellow line. As such, Defendant
was not travelling within his designated lane of travel.
• Mr. Bishop was lawfully riding his bicycle on Brackenville Road in
his designated lane of travel – the southbound lane. Mr. Bishop was
equipped with appropriate lighting on his bicycle and his person.
Among the debris from the collision, Mr. Bishop’s illuminated
equipment was found.
vehicle within 1.5-5 hours prior to the accident, Defendant was “under the influence” of alcohol,
consistent with Delaware statutory law which provides that a person is “under the influence” of
alcohol when that person is “less able than the person would ordinarily have been, either
mentally or physically, to exercise clear judgment, sufficient physical control, or due care in the
driving of a vehicle.” See 21 Del. C. § 4177(c)(11).
13
• Defendant’s vehicle and Mr. Bishop’s bicycle had a head-on-head
collision in the southbound lane of Brackenville Road while Mr.
Bishop was travelling southbound in the southbound lane and
Defendant was travelling northbound in the southbound lane.
• As a result of the collision, the front of Mr. Bishop’s bicycle collapsed
while the front wheel twisted. Upon impact, the bicycle flipped onto
the hood of Defendant’s vehicle, breaking the handlebars and leaving
marks across the hood of the vehicle. Upon impact, Mr. Bishop was
violently separated from his bicycle and thrown by force into the
windshield of Defendant’s vehicle in two places – rendering the
windshield broken and splintered in a spider-web fashion from two
points of impact. After Mr. Bishop smashed into the windshield in
two places, Mr. Bishop was thrown over the roof of Defendant’s
vehicle in full view of the rear seat passenger, Defendant’s son, who
exclaimed, “Dad you hit someone. You killed a person.” The
collision caused significant damage to Defendant’s vehicle.
• After the collision, Defendant’s vehicle drove off the road, leaving tire
marks on the unpaved shoulder and dirt path adjacent to the
southbound roadway.
• Mr. Bishop’s body was further vaulted across the rear hood of the
vehicle and came to rest in the path of the vehicle which passed under
Mr. Bishop’s bruised and broken body on the dirt shoulder of the
southbound lane.
• Defendant knew he had been in a collision.
• Defendant did not stop to assess the scene of the collision to
determine whether any person was injured or killed.
14
• After the collision, Defendant drove his vehicle from the unpaved
shoulder onto the northbound lane.
• Defendant admitted that his vehicle was not safe to drive after the
collision.
• Defendant left the scene of the accident and continued driving
approximately three-tenths of a mile to his residence.
• Unlike Defendant who did not stop to render aid to the mortally
wounded Mr. Bishop, the first three people who came upon the scene
of the accident stopped to ascertain whether someone was hurt. They
contacted emergency personnel by dialing 911. Patrick Ritchie first
interacted with Mr. Bishop and testified that Mr. Bishop exhaled twice
in response to Mr. Ritchie’s efforts. By the time Deirdre Ritchie, a
nurse, approached Mr. Bishop, Mr. Bishop was still warm but had no
pulse and was unresponsive. While Deirdre Ritchie stayed by Mr.
Bishop’s side, Ms. Shannon Athey directed traffic and Patrick Ritchie
briefly left the scene to summon help.
• Upon arrival, New Castle County Police Department officers
determined that Mr. Bishop was deceased and therefore no life-saving
measures were taken.
• Mr. Bishop died from blunt force trauma inflicted upon him by
Defendant’s vehicle.
• Upon returning safely to his home, Defendant assessed the damage to
his vehicle and found no evidence of foliage or organic matter
consistent with a collision of the vehicle with a tree branch.
• While there was no evidence of a tree or branch striking the vehicle,
what was left behind on the vehicle was Mr. Bishop’s DNA on the
15
edge of the sunroof of Defendant’s vehicle, as well as scuff marks
from the handlebars of the bicycle on the vehicle’s hood, pieces of
fabric from Mr. Bishop’s shirt on the vehicle, and scuff marks across
the roof which the Court inferred were made by Mr. Bishop’s helmet
that remained strapped to his head when Mr. Bishop was vaulted over
the roof of the vehicle.
• Defendant did not report the accident to the police until the next
morning.
Defendant’s consciousness of guilt was established by (i) leaving the scene
of the accident; (ii) reluctance to report the accident to his employer; and (iii)
instinct to “hide the car” after the accident. 40 Furthermore, based on the evidence
at trial and the decisional law, the Court found that Defendant acted recklessly.41
Specifically, the Court made the following findings of fact with respect to
Defendant’s recklessness:
• There was no evidence of Defendant braking or otherwise attempting
to avoid the collision.
• Based on expert reconstruction testimony, the collision occurred in the
southbound lane of Brackenville Road while Defendant was driving
northbound in the southbound lane with his vehicle positioned over
the center line in the lane designated for oncoming traffic.
40
This evidence was considered for a limited purpose only – to show consciousness of guilt –
and not as proof that Defendant is a bad person who probably committed the offense.
41
Because the Court determined that Defendant acted recklessly and that the State established all
elements of Manslaughter beyond a reasonable doubt, the Court did not consider the lesser
included offense of criminally negligent homicide. See 11 Del. C. § 631.
16
• Defendant conceded in open court that while driving by straddling the
double yellow line may be safer for him, it does not take into account,
nor is it safer for, other persons, vehicles, or bicycles traveling in the
opposite direction. 42
• Defendant made a conscious decision to use more of the roadway than
was legally available to him.
• The risk of injury to persons travelling southbound was of such a
nature and degree that placement of Defendant’s vehicle over the
center line was a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a
reasonable person would observe in that situation.
• Defendant was exceeding the speed limit after consuming alcohol.
B. Defendant is not entitled to judgment of acquittal.
Defendant is not entitled to a judgment of acquittal. The evidence was
sufficient to support judgments of conviction as follows:
1. Defendant is guilty of Manslaughter.
With respect to Defendant’s state of mind, the Court found that Defendant
was reckless. Defendant was aware of and consciously disregarded a substantial
and unjustifiable risk that a person’s death would result from Defendant’s conduct.
42
The State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant was aware, or should have
been aware, of the result of his conduct. With respect to the facts presented at trial, the State met
its burden even where the actual result differed from the probable result only because a
difference person was injured or affected. In other words, Defendant did not have to foresee
specifically that Phillip Bishop would be riding his bicycle in the opposite lane of travel. Rather,
the Court must compare the actual result with the probable result that someone might be injured
by Defendant. The Court found that there was a sufficient relationship between the probable
result and the actual result such that the State met its burden of proof.
17
The risk posed by Defendant’s driving over the center lane while exceeding the
speed limit after consuming alcohol is of such a nature and degree that Defendant’s
disregard of the risk constituted a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that
a reasonable person would observe in the situation. Defendant did recklessly cause
the death of Mr. Bishop. Accordingly, with respect to Count One, Defendant is
guilty of Manslaughter in violation of 11 Del. C. § 632.
2. Defendant is guilty of Leaving the Scene.
Defendant was the driver of the vehicle involved in a collision resulting in
the death of Mr. Bishop. Defendant knew he was in a collision. Defendant had a
legal obligation to stop at the scene and render reasonable assistance to Mr. Bishop
or contact law enforcement or emergency personnel and await their arrival.
Defendant left the scene without rendering aid or contacting emergency personnel.
Accordingly, with respect to Count Two, Defendant is guilty of Leaving the Scene
in violation of 21 Del. C. § 4202(a).
3. Defendant is guilty of six counts of Endangering the Welfare of a
Child.
Defendant committed the crimes of Manslaughter and Leaving the Scene in
the presence of each of his three sons. At the time of the accident, each of
Defendant’s sons were minor children under the age of eighteen. Defendant is the
parent of each of the three children. Each of the children was a passenger in the
vehicle when the crimes took place and witnessed the crimes by sight and/or
18
sound. Defendant’s reckless act which formed the element of manslaughter was
injurious to the physical, mental, and/or moral welfare of each child. In addition,
Defendant knew that each of his sons had witnessed the crimes committed.
Accordingly, with respect to Counts Three through Eight, Defendant is guilty of
six counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of 11 Del. C. § 1102.
III. Conclusion
The Court finds that Defendant is not entitled to a new trial or a judgment of
acquittal. The Court made findings of fact based on the entire record, including all
direct and circumstantial evidence, and the references therefrom, and found that the
State met its burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt the elements of
Manslaughter with respect to Count One of the Indictment, Leaving the Scene of a
Collision Resulting in Death with respect to Count Two of the Indictment,
Endangering the Welfare of a Child with respect to Counts Three through Eight of
the Indictment.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 20, 2015.
NOW, THEREFORE, this 9th day of November, 2015, Defendant’s
Motion for a New Trial and Motion for Judgment of Acquittal, are hereby
DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Andrea L. Rocanelli
___________________________________
The Honorable Andrea L. Rocanelli
19