Witness in bishop’s trial: Hit-and-run victim drunk

? The man who was killed in a hit-and-run accident involving Catholic Bishop Thomas O’Brien had stumbled into an apartment minutes before, apparently drunk, a woman testified Wednesday at O’Brien’s trial.

Stacy Arey told jurors that Jim Reed, 43, wandered into her apartment while the doors were open and asked for $2 for the bus.

“He was a rather large man who was staggering, had very glazed eyes and appeared highly intoxicated,” she said.

Arey said Reed walked out after she shouted at him to leave and flashed a knife at him.

The bishop is on trial on charges of leaving the scene of an accident that killed Reed.

Prosecutors questioned whether Arey had embellished her testimony, pointing out that some of the details she spoke about, including a description of Reed’s clothing, were not on a 911 tape recorded that night. Arey told prosecutors she obtained those details later after seeing Reed lying in the road.

Toxicologist William Collier testified about a medical examiner’s report that estimated Reed’s blood-alcohol level at the time of his death was 0.21.

Typically, people whose blood-alcohol level is that high are confused, have double vision, lack coordination and are less able to perceive forms or depths, Collier said.

Arizona’s legal limit for driving is .08.

During cross-examination, Collier said that he could not speak to what happened the night Reed died and what signs he might have exhibited.

Also on the stand Wednesday was the Rev. Daniel Syverstad, who saw the bishop during Mass the day after the accident. He testified O’Brien said he thought an animal or rock had struck the car, damaging the windshield. O’Brien told police the same account.

“I would be surprised if he knew he hit a person and didn’t stop,” Syverstad testified.

If convicted, O’Brien could face probation to three years and nine months in prison. His arrest ended a 21-year career as the spiritual leader for the Phoenix diocese.

The accident occurred less than two weeks after prosecutors announced O’Brien had signed an immunity deal to spare him an indictment on obstruction charges for protecting priests accused of child molestation.