Trial begins for rabbi accused in fatal collision
»Play Video
SEATTLE -- An assault trial is under way in the case of a pedestrian struck and killed while in a West Seattle crosswalk.
Matthew Nakata was trying to cross the street on West Seattle's Admiral Way in November of 2006. He was allegedly in the crosswalk when he was struck and killed by a car driven by Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz, who was taking his daughter to school that day. Prosecutors say Schwartz was also talking on his cell phone.
Nakata suffered a severe head injury and broken bones. He later died at Harborview.
Wednesday, city prosecutor Kevin Kilpatrick told the jury he is going to try to prove that Schwartz violated seven rules of the road and that he was talking on his cell phone, and that was a distraction.
The Seattle P-I reports Kilpatrick will call seven witnesses for his case, mainly from the Seattle Police and Fire departments, which responded to the emergency that morning and later investigated it.
Schwartz's lawyer Diego Vargas admits his client was indeed talking on his cell phone, but says it was not a distraction and that Schwartz was traveling at or below the speed limit. He's also going to argue nobody can say exactly where Nakata was when he got hit.
Vargas also claims the city has decided to prosecute the case due to Nakata's political ties. He was on the staff of former counselor David Della at the time of his death. The city, Vargas said, "is out to get Rabbi Schwartz."
The King County Prosecutor's Office decided last year not to file felony charges against Schwartz, the P-I reported.
The trial should wrap up and go to the jury on Thursday. If convicted, Schwartz could face as much as one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Matthew Nakata was trying to cross the street on West Seattle's Admiral Way in November of 2006. He was allegedly in the crosswalk when he was struck and killed by a car driven by Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz, who was taking his daughter to school that day. Prosecutors say Schwartz was also talking on his cell phone.
Nakata suffered a severe head injury and broken bones. He later died at Harborview.
Wednesday, city prosecutor Kevin Kilpatrick told the jury he is going to try to prove that Schwartz violated seven rules of the road and that he was talking on his cell phone, and that was a distraction.
The Seattle P-I reports Kilpatrick will call seven witnesses for his case, mainly from the Seattle Police and Fire departments, which responded to the emergency that morning and later investigated it.
Schwartz's lawyer Diego Vargas admits his client was indeed talking on his cell phone, but says it was not a distraction and that Schwartz was traveling at or below the speed limit. He's also going to argue nobody can say exactly where Nakata was when he got hit.
Vargas also claims the city has decided to prosecute the case due to Nakata's political ties. He was on the staff of former counselor David Della at the time of his death. The city, Vargas said, "is out to get Rabbi Schwartz."
The King County Prosecutor's Office decided last year not to file felony charges against Schwartz, the P-I reported.
The trial should wrap up and go to the jury on Thursday. If convicted, Schwartz could face as much as one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
