Witness Cries on Stand at Janklow Trial

AP/Yahoo ^ | 12/2/03 | Carson Walker

[martin_fierro]

Witness Cries on Stand at Janklow Trial

By CARSON WALKER, Associated Press Writer

FLANDREAU, S.D. - A man who was riding motorcycles with a friend killed in a crash involving Rep. Bill Janklow cried on the witness stand Tuesday as he told jurors about seeing his friend's lifeless body.

"I kneeled down to see if he had a pulse and he didn't," Terry Johnson of Luverne, Minn., said as he was shown photos of the body.

Janklow, 64, is charged with second-degree manslaughter, speeding, running a stop sign and reckless driving for his role in the Aug. 16 collision. Prosecutors say Janklow sped through the stop sign in a Cadillac and collided with a motorcycle, killing Randy Scott, Hardwick, Minn.

Another prosecution witness, Monica Collins, of Pipestone, Minn., testified that a car matching Janklow's passed her car "like she was standing still" just a few miles before she came upon the accident.

"It was very sudden. Zoom, and it was gone," said Collins, who estimated her speed at 55 to 60 mph. "All I know is he was going a lot faster than I was going."

Janklow's lawyer, Ed Evans, told the jury Monday that his client suffered a diabetic reaction and did not see the stop sign.

Another witness, Michael Jenkins, said an aide traveling with Janklow asked him for candy after the accident and told him Janklow was diabetic.

But deputy prosecutor Roger Ellyson said the evidence will show Janklow knowingly sped when he went through the stop sign. The aide with Janklow said there was no indication the congressman was suffering from a diabetic reaction, according to Ellyson.

"Randy Scott was killed that Saturday afternoon as the result of Bill Janklow blowing through that blind intersection at approximately 71 mph," Ellyson told jurors in opening statements. "All because of the reckless disregard. All because of that important person driving that important-looking Cadillac."

If convicted of manslaughter, the maximum punishment is 10 years in prison. It would also prompt the House ethics committee to investigate.

The trial threatens to derail the career of a man who is one of South Dakota's most powerful political figures. The blunt, tough-talking Republican served as attorney general for four years in the 1970s and another 16 years as governor before being elected to South Dakota's lone House seat last year.

[martin_fierro]

JANKLOW RESIGN

[martin_fierro]

	FReeper Motorcycle Hooligan
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More on this turd.

[secret garden]

What did Daschle put in his drink? Seriously though, Janklow is a bad guy and needs to be locked up.

[blackie]

Justice will be served ~ perhaps.

[EggsAckley]

After all these years, the "Twinkie Defense" has been expanded and refined to get this guy off.

appalling.

[martin_fierro]

REMEMBER RANDY SCOTT

[BenLurkin]

Witnesses do sometimes cry in this kind of case. What is tough for the defense is when the court reporter starts crying.

In my opinion, someone who drives with a severe physical impairment which prevents safe operation of the vehicle is not relieved from their negligence, and in fact that conduct, IMO is an aggravated level of negligence.

[asylum32]

Janklow might be advised to change his name to Kennedy and move to Massachusetts.

[blackie]

That'll work. :)

[JudyB1938]

I am diabetic. I quit driving almost two years ago because of it. I almost had a bad wreck, when I went into one of those "confusion" states. If the driver of the other car hadn't had quick reflexes, something bad could have happened. I would have been just as responsible as if I'd gotten out there in my car dead drunk. Since I know from experience, I say ... HANG HIM HIGH. He and nobody else is responsible for Randy Scott's death.

[Jack Black]

Actually I think it's a bullsh*t excuse and had nothing to do with it. There was story in either Motorcyclist or Cycle World about this guy. He's had dozens of speeding tickets and several accidents. In all of them he said he "swerved to avoid a vehicle". I think he said that this time too, but has changed his story at trial. He was just a horribly arrogant politician who thought he owned his state and could do as he pleased. No some poor grandpa is dead.

[pt17]

More on this turd.

Turd? You're being kind.

[Eaker]

Ping to read at home.

[mewzilla]

I'd still like to know how in Hades Janklow managed to get auto insurance with his driving record.

[martin_fierro]

He's gonna need every shred of insurance coverage possible -- and then some -- for the coming civil wrongful death lawsuit.

[StolarStorm]

In most states the elite are allowed to get out of auto insurance if they have enough assets.

[cynicom]

Hang the man.

[mewzilla]

Insurance won't pay out if he's involved in a criminal act, will it? Janklow would be on the hook for that himself I would think.

[mewzilla]

In most states the elite are allowed to get out of auto insurance if they have enough assets.

Charming. Talk about a license to kill...

[martin_fierro]

It'll depend on his policy(ies). Insurance coverage might cover death caused by reckless conduct, rather than through intentional conduct.