Jury to decide fate of man charged in crash that killed teen(12:38 p.m.)
At the request of a 17-year-old victim’s parents, a Fayette County jury will decide if the man who hit his car and killed him in 2004 is guilty of homicide by vehicle. Mary Stokes, mother to James Stokes, said Wednesday that she and her husband understand recent court ruling barring the strongest evidence against Robert Bobin, they want justice for their son.
“I think what he’s getting away with is murder. … He took a life, and he doesn’t even have to explain why,” Mary Stokes said in court.
The Stokes appeared at the request of Judge John F. Wagner Jr., who wanted to make certain that the family was in agreement with District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon dropping the homicide by vehicle charge.
Vernon decided to drop the charge after the state Superior Court upheld a ruling that barred her from presenting evidence that Bobin was on the way to a methadone clinic when he crossed the center line of Route 51, north of Perryopolis, and hit Stokes’ vehicle.
The impact killed Stokes, and sent Bobin, 52, of Monongahela, to the hospital as well.
An appellate court also ruled Vernon could not present any psychiatric records and testimony from Bobin’s wife.
Bobin had pleaded no contest to two summary citations associated with the accident, but Stokes’ parents’ decision rescinded that plea. Jurors will now have to decide if crossing the center line is enough evidence to prove gross negligence, the legal standard needed to convict someone of homicide by vehicle.
See tomorrow’s edition for further details.