The Last Call

In the early morning hours of January 3, 1979, the Defendant left a Redding, California bar after consuming large quantities of beer. Approximately ninety minutes later, the Defendant drove through a red light on a city street, narrowly avoiding a collision only by skidding to a halt in the middle of the intersection. Rather than stopping, he accelerated to high speed and entered a second intersection, where he struck a Toyota sedan. Three passengers were ejected from the vehicle. The driver and her six-year-old daughter were killed. The Defendant left 112 feet of skid marks before impact and 180 feet after. The posted speed limit was 35 mph; expert analysis placed his speed at 70–84 mph at the moment of impact. A breathalyzer administered thirty minutes after the crash recorded a blood alcohol content of 0.23% — more than twice the legal limit. The Prosecution charged the Defendant with two counts of second-degree murder, arguing his conduct amounted to implied malice.