A 53 year-old substance abuse counselor was
convicted for 2nd degree murder and DUI when she struck a pedestrian and continued to drive with the dying victim on the hood of her car. Prosecutors claimed that she was trying to shake the victim off of her car. Her sentence, based on the aggravating factor of two prior drunk driving convictions, was 55 years to life. The defendant claimed that she was not intoxicated. The blood alcohol result introduced at trial was nearly twice the legal limit. Her attorneys are appealing her conviction.