From Deseret News archives:
Funeral today for family
Teen appears in juvenile court where motions are filed
The teen was charged Thursday with four counts of automobile homicide, all second-degree felonies; third-degree felony DUI resulting in a serious injury; misdemeanor DUI resulting in injury; leaving the scene of an accident, a misdemeanor; and a minor in possession of alcohol, a class B misdemeanor.
The two-car crash on 2000 East near 2500 South on Feb. 9 claimed the lives of 41-year-old Michelle Williams, who was six months pregnant; her 11-year-old son Ben; and 9-year-old daughter Anna. Her husband, Chris Williams, and their 6-year-old son, Sam, survived the incident. Sam was in stable condition Friday at Primary Children's Medical Center.
Services for the Williamses are today at noon at the Salt Lake Highland Stake Center. A fund to help the family with funeral and medical expenses has been established at all Zions Bank locations.
Toxicology tests showed the teenage driver had a blood-alcohol content of .15, according to court records. For an adult, that is nearly twice the legal limit. The "not a drop" law in Utah makes it a crime for minors to drive with any amount of alcohol in their system.
Although named in public documents, the Deseret Morning News is not identifying the teen because he is still being treated as a juvenile in the judicial system. The Salt Lake District Attorney's Office has filed a motion requesting the teen be certified to stand trial in adult court.
The teen appeared nervous and did not say a word as he sat next to his attorneys Friday in 3rd District Juvenile Court. Wearing an orange sweatshirt, blue jeans and white tennis shoes with his hands in his lap in handcuffs, the dark haired boy did not say a word, and occasionally looked over at his parents who were sitting in the front row of the courtroom. Other times, he just looked at the judge or simply held his head down. Several times his knee would nervously bounce while his fingers played with the chains on his cuffs.
A motion was filed at the start of the hearing by the defense to have the media barred from the hearing. The defense argued recent news reports that named the boy could taint a prospective jury.
"There is no constitutional right of the press to be part of the proceedings," argued defense attorney Joseph Barrett.
Katie Bernards-Goodman, with the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office, countered that the boy's name was already out in the public because of a blog on myspace.com. Furthermore, she pointed out the boy is just three months away from turning 18.
