Amy Senser: Motion for new trial gets hearing
A Hennepin County judge has set a May 31 hearing on Amy Senser's motion for a new trial or to have the verdicts thrown out.
Earlier this month, a Hennepin County jury convicted the wife of former Vikings player Joe Senser of two of three felony counts of criminal vehicular homicide in her hit-and-run trial. Jurors found her guilty of leaving the scene of the accident, and of failure to notify authorities in a timely manner. They found her not guilty of gross negligence, but guilty of a lesser charge of careless driving.
Amy Senser, 45, admitted to driving the car that hit and killed Anousone Phanthavong, 38, along an exit ramp as he was putting gas in his car August 2011.
In a note the jury's forewoman gave to Judge Daniel Mabley just before announcing the verdict, jurors said they believed Senser believed that she had hit another vehicle and not a person.
Senser's attorney Eric Nelson says Minnesota law requires a defendant who knowingly hit a person to be convicted of vehicular homicide. Nelson said the judge should have told jurors this. Nelson also says the judge should have told attorneys about the jurors' note immediately.
The hearing is scheduled before Judge Mabley.
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