Wednesday, April 16, 2008

No impropriety


It was the right thing to do IMHO.


Barr recused from manslaughter case
From staff reports: The Herald-Zeitung


A judge granted Comal County District Attorney Geoff Barr’s motion to be recused from a manslaughter case to avoid any appearance of impropriety.


The accused in the case, a Smithson Valley High School student, was formerly defended by Jennifer Smith, who now is an assistant district attorney with the county. Another prosecutor will be appointed.


Richard “Ray” Hanly, 18, is facing two counts of manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault in connection with a June rollover wreck that left two teenage girls dead and sent a third to the hospital with critical injuries.


Hanly was driving a Toyota Sienna minivan when the vehicle struck a tree and flipped onto its roof on Charter Oak Drive, killing two passengers, Megan Herring, 18, and Kayla Gage, 17. Both were recent SVHS graduates.


A third passenger in the vehicle, 16-year-old Alysse Ojeda, was in critical condition for nearly three weeks. Hanly was treated for minor injuries.


A Department of Public Safety investigation determined excessive speed and driver inexperience were the causes of the crash.