116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Closing arguments today in vehicular homicide trial
Oct. 21, 2010 12:19 pm
The prosecution rested Thursday morning and the defense rested without putting on any witnesses in the vehicular homicide trial of Troy Fox in Linn County District Court.
The prosecution has the burden of proof and the defense isn't required to put on a case or any witnesses if it chooses.
Closing arguments will start 1 p.m. The jury should start deliberating by mid-afternoon. The trial started Monday.
Fox, 36, of Hiawatha, is accused of being intoxicated and driving himself and his friend, Ruben Mayo, 32, also of Hiawatha, home Oct. 5, 2009. Fox lost control of his car on I-380, near Collins Road, colliding with a light pole and Mayo suffered irreversible spinal cord injury in the crash.
The issue in the case is the defense claims Fox isn't guilty of vehicular homicide because Mayo chose to end his life by withdrawing life support Oct. 11, 2009. The prosecution contends Fox's reckless actions led to Mayo's death and meet the elements of the crime – homicide by vehicle.
If convicted, Fox faces 25 years in prison.
Defendant Troy Fox of Hiawatha and his attorney Kjas Long listen to opening statements from the prosecution at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, October 19, 2010. Fox is on trial for vehicular homicide in an October 5, 2009 single vehicle accident on I-380 in Cedar Rapids. Fox was intoxicated and collided with a light pole seriously injuring his passenger Rueben Mayo, who was removed from life support and died on October 11, 2009. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
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