Archive for Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Trial to begin in hit-and-run deaths
Ramona Morgan, center, sits with her attorney Billy Rork, right, during her preliminary hearing June 2 in Douglas County District Court. Morgan is charged with two counts of reckless second-degree murder in the deaths of two highway workers last September.
September 2, 2008
Advertisement
Trial to start in hit-and-run case
Trial begins tomorrow in Douglas County District Court for a Washington woman accused of running down two highway workers on Highway 59 nearly a year ago. Enlarge video
A woman accused in the hit-and-run deaths of two highway workers south of Lawrence will soon begin standing trial, nearly a year after the incident.
Jury selection starts today in the trial of Ramona Morgan, 49, of Washington state.
Morgan is facing two counts of reckless second-degree murder for the deaths of Tyrone Korte, 30, of Seneca, and Rolland Griffith, 24, of El Dorado. Morgan also is charged with aggravated battery, accused of injuring a third worker Sept. 11, 2007, in a construction zone on U.S. Highway 59 near Pleasant Grove.
Prosecutors have said that Morgan ignored signs and warnings to stop and twice drove through the blocked-off construction area. It was on her second pass, they say, that Morgan struck and killed Korte, a Kansas Department of Transportation employee, and Griffith, who worked for Dustrol Inc., the Towanda firm hired to do the highway repaving.
"All of the witnesses testified she sped through that construction zone twice," Asst. District Attorney Eve Kemple said at a previous court hearing. "She failed to heed any warnings. She did not brake, did not swerve, she took no evasive action."
But Morgan's attorney argues that no crime was committed.
"We want to give the jury all the facts so they can decide for themselves whether this tragedy was a crime," Billy Rork said.
Rork said he will argue that his client drove through the construction zone because she was being chased.
"She was thoroughly convinced that her life was in danger," he said. "She maintains she did not know she struck anybody."
Morgan, who fled the accident scene, was convicted by an Osage County jury in April of a felony charge of trying to flee from police, as well as several misdemeanor traffic violations.
She's been in custody since her arrest last year, despite several attempts by her attorney to have her bond reduced. She remains in Douglas County Jail on $200,000 bond.
The trial is expected to last at least a week.
More like this
- Attorney seeks dismissal of murder verdicts, new trial for Ramona Morgan in hit-and-run case 10 comments / October 14, 2008
- Jury to continue deliberations in U.S. Highway 59 fatalities 11 comments / September 8, 2008
- Jury heads home in hit-and-run case 13 comments / September 8, 2008
- KBI, coroner, defendant testify in hit-and-run trial 22 comments / September 5, 2008
- Defense rests in trial of woman accused of killing U.S. 59 workers 4 comments / September 8, 2008
Top ads RSS
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Former KU Chancellor Laurence Chalmers dies November 25, 2009 · 35 comments
- Quiet revolution taking place in America November 25, 2009 · 128 comments
- Obama to promise 17% cuts in U.S. emissions in next decade November 26, 2009 · 38 comments
- Two treated at hospital after fight outside Cadillac Ranch November 26, 2009 · 26 comments
- Turbine manufacturer passes on Lawrence site November 24, 2009 · 90 comments
- Local residents work together to make donation to Locks of Love November 25, 2009 · 5 comments
- Blog: How Has Obama's Stimulus Helped You? November 21, 2009 · 80 comments
- Heeding heart attack’s message November 26, 2009 · 14 comments
- Company as much of a draw as the food at annual community dinner November 26, 2009 · 1 comment
- Nation has right to ask ‘why?’ November 21, 2009 · 143 comments
- Double Take: Parent considers home drug testing November 24, 2009
- At Fambrough’s urging, fans show support for KU football November 26, 2009
- Lawrence likely to land distribution center November 24, 2009
- Local residents work together to make donation to Locks of Love November 25, 2009
- Tight credit slows state’s business development November 27, 2009
- Pie Lady makes holidays sweeter November 26, 2009
- Witness claims two took turns killing family March 24, 1960
- Texas guard Ward lost for season November 26, 2009
- Munchers to honor owner at open house November 26, 2009
- Message warns students at Perry-Lecompton not to attend class today April 20, 2007
2 September 2008
at 7:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Informed (Anonymous) says…
No crimes were committed? Two people are dead and a third was injured. It's interesting that none of the witnesses to this horrific accident said that they thought she was being chased.
2 September 2008
at 7:27 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Yabut (Anonymous) says…
So its ok to commit a crime if you have (at least in your mind) a justifiable reason for doing so? She WAS being chased — by the police after she murdered 2 people!
2 September 2008
at 8:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
xbusguy (Anonymous) says…
I drive by the murder scene several times a week. Seeing the well maintained flowers still saddens me. She killed good hard working people, then turned on her windshield wipers and drove off. Any decent person would have stopped.
2 September 2008
at 11:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
missmia (Anonymous) says…
She didn't realize she “struck” anyone but she fled the scene? There's witnesses to say they saw her speed TWICE through construction zones, they didn't say anything about her being chased. It's sad that people not only do things like this, but try to get out of any consequences for it!
5 September 2008
at 6:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
bigsis04 (Anonymous) says…
I'm going to use this as an excuse next time I get pulled over for speeding “sorry officer, someone was chasing me” So basicly she is saying that it doesn't matter who she runs over she can drive irraticly and with no regard for the law or human life, just because someone was supposedly “chasing” her? It was probably the purple people eater!!!!!! Crazy xxxxx. It is suprising that NOT ONE witness said they thought she was being chased. LIAR!!!