You cannot be directly implicated in an accident and not pay for it — even if it’s been two years since the incident. Arthur King Hall, the 27 year old boat driver who was hit with several manslaughter charges for the death of a passenger and serious injuries to others in 2009 is set to be sentenced to to ten years in jail by the New Haven Superior Court on the 2nd of July, 2012.
Hall has been under police custody for the past twelve months after being
arrested two times since the 2009 accident for similar charges of violation of
peace charges and disorderly behavior. In addition to his ten-year jail
sentence, he will also be sentenced for a 3.5-year suspension after the jail
time and five years under probation.
Probation conditions state that he contribute $100 to the state’s victim injury
compensation fund yearly, preferably on the date of the accident,
rehabilitation for alcohol use, random urine tests and a boating certificate
suspension of one year plus 100 hours of community service. The prison time is
related to the death of Jonathan Cook and the serious injury on Devon Hardy
when the victims’ families rode a boat driven by Hall in 3 September 2009.
According to the testimonies, Hall had been drinking on the night of the
accident and was unfit to drive. Tests had proven that Hall had a 0.32
blood-alcohol level back then, which is four times higher than the legal 0.08
limit for alcohol intake while at work. Further examination of the state of the
boat at the time it was used proven that there was nothing wrong with it and
strengthened the case that it was Hall’s inability to function properly that
caused the fatal incident. Hall is represented by Christopher Morano, an
Essex-based attorney.
Related reports by the emergency response team said that Hall had been found on
the sea wall when the accident happened. At the scene, they found Hardy
unconscious in the boat, Cook in the water. In 2009, the families of the
victims had charged Hall with 2nd degree manslaughter, 2nd degree manslaughter
with a vessel, 2 counts of 2nd degree assault, 1st degree reckless
endangerment, and 1st degree reckless operation of a vessel with under the
influence of drugs or alcohol. Hall had pleaded nolo contendre, which means he
neither confirms nor denies the allegations and called for the need to get into
trial.
In the plea proceedings in 9 May 2012, Hall briefly addressed the families of
the victims and said he was truly sorry for what happened, adding that he
intends to say more about his remorse during his scheduled sentencing in July.
Hall’s lawyer had advised him not to speak any further until his sentence is
brought down.
Our team of maritime injury lawyers may be approached for consultations and
inquiries on any related incident or complaint involving water vessels. Get in
touch with us now.
