09/09/2010 // WPB, FL, USA // Personal Injury Lawyers News // Nicole Howley
Brooklyn, NY– A former New York Police Department (NYPD) officer pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular manslaughter for hitting and killing a woman while intoxicated in 2009. The officer is expected to serve 90 days in jail for the fatal DUI accident; a much lesser sentence than the seven-year maximum sentence he originally faced, reports the New York Times.
Officer Andrew Kelly, who was reportedly off-duty at the time of the accident, killed Vionique Valnord-Kassime, 32, on Sept. 27, 2009 at around 1 a.m. Mr. Kelly’s SUV hit Valnord-Kassime’s in the Mill Basin neighborhood, as she was leaving a wedding reception and hailing a taxi.
Following the accident, Mr. Kelly denied a request to submit a blood alcohol test. But, several hours later, when a subpoena was obtained, the blood test showed there was no alcohol in his system. The police department later investigated whether officers helped Mr. Kelly hide his intoxication.
Mr. Kelly pleaded guilty on Wednesday, September 8, 2010, where he also admitted that he was intoxicated at the time of the fatal accident. His admission of guilt was enough to satisfy the victim’s family.
Valnord-Kassime’s father, the Rev. Varius Valnord stated, “All I needed was for him to take responsibility, and he took responsibility.”
On top of the 90-day jail sentence, Mr. Kelly will receive five years of probation. In addition, his driver’s licenses will be suspended for one year, and he will have to complete an alcohol treatment program and install an ignition lock on his car.
Mr. Kelly will be formally sentenced on Sept. 24. He also resigned from the NYPD on Friday.
Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley- Legal news for New York wrongful death lawyers.
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