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By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com
Defense attorney Michael “Mickey” Sherman described the case as “a nightmare.” Only minutes before, Sherman’s client, 24-year-old Jennifer J. Khan of Norwalk, had pleaded nolo contendere to negligent homicide. She received a six-month suspended sentence in Bantam Superior Court, a $1,000 fine and two years probation for the traffic accident last May 28 that resulted in the death of 43-year-old motorcyclist Christopher Sayles of Torrington.
Devin T. Stilson, supervisory assistant state’s attorney, had earlier summarized the details of the accident that resulted in Khan being charged – how Khan had been westbound on East Main Street in Torrington in a Nissan Xterra, how Sayles had been eastbound on his motorcycle, how Khan had attempted to make a left-hand turn on to Orchard Road and had driven across the path of the biker. Sayles died 16 days later from injuries sustained in the accident.
In the courtroom for the pre-trial hearing were Sayles’ widow, Kelly, and other family members, three of whom wore shirts that had the words “Forever Riding,” “Chris” and “Oct. 3, 1966 – June 13, 2010” printed on the back. Also in the courtroom were Khan’s parents. In entering her plea, Khan spoke briefly. In in a subdued voice that was hard to hear from the gallery, she said, “I feel terrible about this. I’m very sorry.”
RIDE-CT will have more on the resolution to this case in Saturday’s column in “The Republican-American.”
Kill a biker, and get fined $1,000. And the state’s attorney thinks this is a just verdict. Amazing.
Well there you have it. Another lightweight sentence which will lead to more injuries and fatalities due to these lackadaisical sentences and attitudes.
The fact that Mickey Sherman was the defense attorney tells me two things, she’s well to do and the case was potentially dangerous to her continued freedom.
Perhaps there’s some mileage on the civil side of things as far as a monetary judgment, of course, we will pay for that in increased insurance premiums.
Khan feels terrible, that statement is hollow and condescending at best.
As usual cycle riders have once again been relegated to second class citizen status, it would interesting to explore similar cases involving two cars and see if this sentence is in the normal guidelines.
I suspect accidents invoking cars and motorcycles will always favor the auto driver, paranoia, perhaps, draw your own sociological conclusions.
Of course being the pinball and the auto as the flipper in the pinball game has a tendency to give one a jaded perspective.
Hmmm…, now what was I saying about my opinion of our legal system in that previous post again ??