Trial date set for Paterson man accused of drunk driving in fatal crash - NorthJersey.com
29 trial date for a Paterson man accused of causing a fatal car crash while allegedly driving drunk three years ago. Authorities said Garcia was crossing Madison Avenue in a crosswalk when Baker struck her with his Nissan Titan pickup. Police said a breath test showed that Baker’s blood alcohol level was 0. 28, more than three times the legal limit of 0. 08. Related: Police: Paterson man driving drunk struck, killed woman. Prosecutors’ last offer to Baker was a term of seven years in return for a guilty plea, she said. Baker faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of vehicular homicide, a second-degree charge. Baker has been convicted twice for aggravated assault, including once in 2006. A defendants’ prior criminal convictions cannot be brought up at trial, in an effort to prevent jurors from being prejudiced against them. But if a defendant chooses to testify at trial, state law allows prosecutors to cross-examine him or her about previous convictions, to the extent that the previous convictions are not “too remote” from the charges at trial. Baker’s attorney, Harley Breite, said at the hearing Wednesday that Baker intends to testify at his own trial, and a requested a hearing to determine whether Baker’s previous convictions are too remote to be brought up during his trial on the... Source: www.northjersey.com
