A woman, 24, recently pleaded not guilty after reportedly drinking and driving and killing a bicyclist in Colorado back in June. The woman’s formal charges include weaving, DUI (second offense), leaving a fatal accident scene and vehicular homicide. As a result of the woman’s not-guilty plea, her trial has been scheduled for April of next year.
According to police, at the time of the accident, the woman was driving an SUV at about 5:15 p.m. That is when she allegedly struck a bicycling man, 35. Police said the woman then left the accident scene.
Authorities reported that a witness saw that the woman’s vehicle had been damaged and contacted the police. When police confronted her, they reportedly detected alcohol on her breath and arrested her due to her criminal history. The woman is currently in custody on a bond of $200,000.
When a person is accused of DUI in Colorado, it is within his or her right to aggressively fight the charge at trial. Prosecutors at trial must prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt before a conviction can be secured. This standard exists in an effort to prevent innocent individuals from being accused of crimes they did not commit. A careful examination of the evidence that the prosecution intends to present at trial will most likely be a chief area of focus for defense counsel. The criminal defense will push for the most favorable outcome for the client considering the circumstances while also ensuring that all of his or her applicable rights are upheld during all stages of the criminal proceedings.
Source: dailycamera.com, “Driver pleads not guilty in DUI hit-and-run that killed Boulder cyclist“, Amelia Arvesen, Oct. 21, 2016