GUILTY !!

[Frank C]

Thanks for some semblence of jurisprudence in New England!

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/breaking/1000h.htm

[Sloop John B]

Appears correct. End of June for the result.

Owner's insurance probably extended to the bailee, that is, Martin.

In Europe, criminal and tort law are so intertwined that a few baskets of money can make everything go away.

I hope that I shall never be close to anything like this. Daydreams and night mares can extinguish your spark allowing death to loom much sooner.

[Mark Prouty]

Martin found guilty in boating deaths

12:04 PM 5/7/2004

MIDDLEBURY -- A Charlotte man was found guilty Friday morning on two counts of boating while intoxicated with death resulting for the July 4, 2002, accident that killed two Charlotte children.

George Dean Martin, 48, left the courtroom after the jury returned the verdict about 11 a.m., free on conditions until his sentencing, which is scheduled for June 29.

He could receive up to 10 years in prison and a $4,000 fine.

The parents of the two children, Steven and Laura Mack, said they were pleased with the verdict and hope it will allow them to begin to heal.

Defense attorney Richard Rubin said he was disappointed and hopes for a lenient sentence.

Jurors deliberated about four hours Thursday night and three hours Friday morning before delivering their verdict.

Martin was piloting a combination sailboat/motorboat on Lake Champlain with 10 passengers to see Fourth of July fireworks when the boat capsized. 9-year-old Melissa Mack and 4-year-old Trevor Mack drowned.

Rubin, in defending Mack, tried to pin the capsizing on the design of the boat.

See tomorrow's Free Press for full coverage!

Copied here for posterity. Now we'll have to see what punishment he gets.