4 additional charges as jury trial begins for woman accused in crash that killed 2 Marquette students
CBS 58 MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Jury selection is underway in the trial of the woman accused in a crash that killed two Marquette University lacrosse players.
Jury selection wrapped up Monday, June 15, and instructions are now being read. Opening arguments will be heard in the afternoon.
Forty potential jurors were questioned, with two Marquette students in the pool of options. Neither are included in the final 14 jurors selected, made up of nine women and five men.
That's relevant because two Marquette lacrosse players were killed last September, allegedly at the hands of 42-year-old Amandria Brunner.
Four additional felonies were added against her Monday, to which she pleaded not guilty.
Brunner is facing two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle while having a prior intoxicant-related conviction, two counts of operating with a prohibited alcohol content causing death, and two counts of operating with a restricted controlled substance.
She's accused of driving with a blood alcohol content of .133 when she hit a car on N. 27th St. and W. St. Paul Avenue on Sept. 5.
Inside the car were six Marquette University lacrosse players. Two were killed: 19-year-old Scott Michaud and 20-year-old Noah Snyder.
According to the criminal complaint, Brunner was stopped at the left turn lane, and as the light turned yellow, she stepped on the accelerator, hitting the car with the Marquette students inside.
It's worth noting that the student driving that car, Peter McColgan, was recently charged in the crash as well. It's alleged he was going 53 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour zone, also trying to beat the yellow light.
In a search of Brunner's car, police reportedly found an open beer can and a THC container in the backseat.
The defense explained they'll be relying on "affirmative defense" in this case.
"Would’ve happened anyway," defense attorney Abigail Ruckdashel said. "True accident, right? Doesn't matter if Ms. Brunner was drinking. It doesn't matter, it's whoever was in her position on the roadway, this accident would’ve happened anyway."
"Substantial factor does not mean the only factor," Assistant District Attorney Emily Zimmel said. "The law says is while she was a substantial factor, there can be other things, other people that also cause the death."
If found guilty, Brunner could spend the rest of her life behind bars.
