Victims in deadly Venice boardwalk crash describe horror, agony of attack - Los Angeles Times
A man convicted of deliberately driving his car onto the Venice boardwalk, killing an Italian newlywed and injuring 17 others, lost his bid for a new trial Wednesday and heard three victims describe the agony he caused. Nathan Louis Campbell was found guilty in June of second-degree murder in the death of Alice Gruppioni, an Italian tourist visiting California with her husband on their honeymoon. Defense attorney James Cooper challenged the verdict, arguing in a motion for a new trial that two jurors committed misconduct that prevented a fair trial. The jury's foreman, Cooper alleged, prejudiced the jury by immediately voicing his opinion on the case as deliberations began. Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >>. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathryn Solorzano denied the motion, saying that neither of those actions rose to the level of jury misconduct. Victor Avila urged jurors to convict Campbell of murder and other charges, describing him as frustrated, angry and intent on inflicting pain on others in the Aug. Upset after a botched effort to buy drugs, Campbell got into his Dodge Avenger and decided to jump a curb, maneuver past barriers meant to block vehicle access and plow through the packed boardwalk, the prosecutor argued. The prosecutor told jurors that Gruppioni's body remained on the hood of Campbell's car for 300 feet before sliding off. Source: www.latimes.com
