Downing manslaughter case sent back to jury
kgw.com
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:56 AM
Updated today at 5:03 PM
SALEM, Ore. -- The judge in the Sophia Downing manslaughter trial sent the jury back into deliberations Tuesday, after they thought they had reached a verdict.
Downing is accused of plowing her SUV into a group of students near Chemeketa Community College in 2010, while she was allegedly high on prescription drugs. Two of the teens died and a third was critically injured.
Downing was charged with manslaughter, assault and DUII. The trial wrapped up Monday and the jury went into deliberations. Then, on Tuesday morning, the court announced that they had reached a verdict and it would be read at 11:45 a.m.
However, as the proceedings for the verdict began, Judge Dennis Graves said the jury had apparently misunderstood instructions and failed to reach the required 10-person majority on some of the charges. So he sent them back out, to re-deliberate.
The mother of one of the victims told KGW the trial was hard on her family and this new twist has added to their frustrations.
"We want people to do the right thing and put this behind us so we, as a family, can actually get closure. But like I said, we have to accept the fact that she's never going to get [sentenced to] near what we want her to have," Lois Green said.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Downing misused drugs and was impaired when she jumped a curb and plowed into the teens. The trial moved faster than expected and was very emotional. Downing broke down in tears several times, as did family members of the victims.
Police said Downing admitted taking Ativan, a prescription drug, before the crash. The defense countered that the amount of drugs in her system were not enough to cause impairment.
Background: Driver on trial for manslaughter
Brittney Green, 18, of Salem, died after the collision, along with 16-year-old Francisco Servantes. Jorge Echeverria, 18, suffered serious injuries but survived.
Downing, who was driving a 1994 Chevy Blazer, stayed on the scene. Her speed was unknown when the vehicle went through a crosswalk and jumped a curb hitting the victims and an electrical junction box.
The trial went to the jury of nine women and five men late Monday morning.
Downing also has a past record. In 1997, she was charged with attempted murder, solicitation of murder, conspiring to commit murder and assault. After a plea agreement, she was sentenced to ten years in prison and three years probation.
A friend of Downing's told KGW that she has long-battled with mental issues and substance abuse.
KGW Reporter Kyle Iboshi contributed to this report
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