Verdict expected Monday in Milford drunk-driving fatal

WORCESTER – A judge will decide on Monday whether Nicolas Dutan Guaman is guilty of murder after testimony concluded regarding the crash that killed Milford resident Matthew Denice. Judge David Ricciardone heard closing statements Thursday from the prosecutor, who argued Guaman was drunk and tried to flee following the August 2011 accident, and the defense attorney, who said his client had no idea he was dragging Denice and couldn't understand the witnesses who were screaming at him to stop. “This was an unbelievable perfect storm of circumstances,” defense attorney Peter Ettenberg said in Worcester Superior Court. “This was a chaotic, horrifying event and it's reasonable to assume that … Mr. Dutan Guaman was very frightened. What he did was to try and leave that scene … That leaving the scene alone does not equal guilt.” He argued that his client had no knowledge that he was dragging Denice and that he could not understand, due to a language barrier, the witnesses who were yelling at him to stop. Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Travers said the evidence clearly shows Guaman knew his actions would have a strong likelihood of causing Denice's death.

“The defendant would say he didn't know he was dragging Matthew as he's compressing him, wearing away his body and blood is flying up the side of the passenger side,” Travers said. “The defendant subjectively knew that Matt was in front of the pickup truck when he chose to drive forward. When Matt screamed, struggled and banged on the truck, he continued. When the police arrived, he'd already committed to running from the scene.”..I am sure screaming,banging on the truck, blood every where are clear indications that he knew he hit somebody. Furthermore fleeing the scene of an accident is indeed an admission of guilt.I hope this guy does some serious time behind bars.They cannot keep using the excuse of did not know .Here.. “Testimony that he was drunk was totally not reconciled by what was on that video,” said Ettenberg, noting the booking video shown in court of Guaman performing three separate sobriety tests...Nevermind two police officers who said Guaman was drunk, the 911 call from Guaman's niece prior to the accident reporting he was driving drunk and the empty and full beer cans located in the truck – one of which had DNA matching Guaman's...His lawyer ask's was my client really drunk ???

"he could not understand, due to a language barrier, the witnesses who were yelling at him to stop."

Pretty sure that some guy screaming as you drag him to death, and other people yelling at you to stop is UNIVERSALLY understood.

I could be in Central African Republic, not understand a word spoken, and I'd "grasp" the situation pretty quickly.

Pardon the French, but WHAT f'ing "language barrier"?

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