Posted on 04/09/2008 4:11:41 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
The way Olga Franco tells it, she was a passenger the afternoon of Feb. 19, heading toward work in Cottonwood and arguing with her boyfriend, who was behind the wheel, when she saw the school bus.
She yelled at him to be careful, but the van's brakes weren't working well, she said, and they went through the intersection and into the bus.
Franco is now charged with criminal vehicular homicide in the deaths of four schoolchildren who were on the bus and has become a flashpoint in the debate on undocumented immigrants.
Speaking publicly Tuesday for the first time, Franco, 24, cried off and on throughout a 90-minute interview in a Lyon County jail meeting room. She spoke softly and looked down at the table often, but she remained adamant about her innocence.
Her boyfriend, Francisco, was driving, she said, and he ran off because he didn't want to be deported to Mexico. Before leaving, he threatened her, she said, saying if she told anyone her life would be at risk. Her attorney declined to let her speak about what specifically happened right after the crash.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
This be the Mexican version of the “Tyrone Defense,” so beloved by defense attorneys.
Heard a quick blurb on the local news last night that she will be making another court appearance today. (4/21/08)
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