Surlyfritz209
09-05-2001, 13:23
Ex-New York officer indicted in death of baby born after his mother's death in car accident
Associated Press
Published 09/05/01
NEW YORK -- A former police officer accused of mowing down three members of a family while driving drunk has been charged in a fourth death - that of a baby born to one of the victims after the accident.
Initially, District Attorney Charles Hynes said he could not seek the additional charge because the medical examiner's office ruled the baby was stillborn.
But in reviewing medical records and interviewing doctors, investigators found the child had a heartbeat for 12 hours after the delivery, the prosecutor said Tuesday.
``We believe that it was more than enough evidence to prosecute the death of a live baby,'' he said.
The indictment announced Tuesday charged Joseph Gray with second-degree manslaughter.
Gray already has pleaded innocent to charges of manslaughter and other offenses in the Aug. 4 deaths of the baby's mother, Maria Herrera, 24; her 4-year-old son, Andy Herrera; and her 16-year-old sister, Dilcia Pena.
Herrera was eight months pregnant at the time of the accident; her baby - named Ricardo Nicanor by his father - was delivered by Caesarean section.
Gray, 41, a 15-year veteran, resigned last week.
Authorities have accused him of going on an all-day drinking binge before mowing down the family on his way to work. The incident has raised questions about alcohol abuse at the New York Police Department and prompted officials to accelerate discipline of officers charged with drunken driving.
Gray's attorney, Harold Levy, said the new indictment would not affect the case. ``It's a tragedy whether it's three victims or four victims,'' he said.
Gray remained free on $250,000 bail.
So....it's a living person if someone else kills the kid (like this NY cop), but if the mother kills the kid, it's OK? Legal anyway. Well I guess I just shared my opinion on abortion with everyone.
Associated Press
Published 09/05/01
NEW YORK -- A former police officer accused of mowing down three members of a family while driving drunk has been charged in a fourth death - that of a baby born to one of the victims after the accident.
Initially, District Attorney Charles Hynes said he could not seek the additional charge because the medical examiner's office ruled the baby was stillborn.
But in reviewing medical records and interviewing doctors, investigators found the child had a heartbeat for 12 hours after the delivery, the prosecutor said Tuesday.
``We believe that it was more than enough evidence to prosecute the death of a live baby,'' he said.
The indictment announced Tuesday charged Joseph Gray with second-degree manslaughter.
Gray already has pleaded innocent to charges of manslaughter and other offenses in the Aug. 4 deaths of the baby's mother, Maria Herrera, 24; her 4-year-old son, Andy Herrera; and her 16-year-old sister, Dilcia Pena.
Herrera was eight months pregnant at the time of the accident; her baby - named Ricardo Nicanor by his father - was delivered by Caesarean section.
Gray, 41, a 15-year veteran, resigned last week.
Authorities have accused him of going on an all-day drinking binge before mowing down the family on his way to work. The incident has raised questions about alcohol abuse at the New York Police Department and prompted officials to accelerate discipline of officers charged with drunken driving.
Gray's attorney, Harold Levy, said the new indictment would not affect the case. ``It's a tragedy whether it's three victims or four victims,'' he said.
Gray remained free on $250,000 bail.
So....it's a living person if someone else kills the kid (like this NY cop), but if the mother kills the kid, it's OK? Legal anyway. Well I guess I just shared my opinion on abortion with everyone.