MeganRivard

Mr.Dapelo
CrimeSociety&TheLaw
1/22/2014

ClosingStatementIndependencev.Beaver

Yourhonor,Counsel,mycolleagues,ladiesandgentlemenofthejury.Iwanttothankyoufor
takingthetimetolistentothetrialthisafternoon.IthasbeenalongprocessandmyteamandIthank
youforyourefforts.Today,theeventssetinmotiontwoyearsagoaredrawingtoaclose.Todayisthe
dayparentsmayfinallygetjusticeandclosurefromhavingtheirchildtakenawayfromthem.
Noneofuscanimaginehearingthefactthatourchildwillnevercomehomeagain.Butfor
Freddysparents,theydealwiththisfacteveryday.Forthem,thistrialisntovertoday,anditneverwill
be.Achildwithsomuchpotentialcollege,marriageacareerandafamilyaheadofhim,rippedfrom
theirhands.AllofthiswasshatteredbecauseonMay21,2012acrimeofextremeproportionswas
committedthatforeverchangedthefateofabrightyoungman.InthelatehoursonMay20th,Dustin
andhisfriendsdecidedtogoboatingwhileillegallydrinking.Timeandalcoholeventuallysealedthefate
ofFreddyFerrisintheearlyhoursofthemorning.DustinandhisfriendsarrivednearRailroadBridge
followingProm.HimandAlexAlvarodroveoutintoShellyBeachMarinawiththeirparents
powerboats,andstarteddrinking.Around1:30am,theydecidedtogotubingandstoppeddrinking.
YouhaveheardbothDr.ShellyStorm,anexpertintoxicology,andDr.ChrisCarsontestifyand
confirmthistime.Youalsoheardbothexpertsagreethatdrinkerspeak3090minutesaftertheyhave
hadtheirlastdrink,and2:20fitswithinthistimeframe.Youhaveheardevidencefromthetollbooth
operatorconfirmingthatboatswererecklesslyspeedinginthewater.Themedicalexaminerthat
performedtheautopsyonFreddyFerrissbodyconcludedbluntforcetraumaresultinginafractureof
theskull,splittingofthebrain,andmassivehemorrhagingallconsistentwithbeingstruckbya
boatwasthereasonofdeathinthisyoungman.YouhaveseenfromchartExhibit1thatDustinwas
withoutadoubtintoxicatedandfelteffectsofalcohol.Dr.Stormfromtheprosecutionevenstatedthata
personcanbeconvictedofdrunkdrivingiftheyhavea.05bloodalcohollevel.Fromhospitalrecords
weknowthatwellpastthetimeoftheaccident,DustinBeaverhadthebloodalcohollevelof.057.
DetectiveEvansstatedthathehasneverseenanyone,inover10yearsofexperiencedpatrolling,go
underthebridgeinthatspot,whichfurthersconfirmsthefactofrecklessdriving.Additionally,youheard
fromDustinsbestfriendLeestatinghisconcernfortheboatsspeed.LeewarnedDustinseveraltimes
tostoporslowdownbecauseswimmerswerepresent.Yetthedefendantchosetoignorethese
warnings.DustinhasevenpreviouslyswamatnightinthesamespotFreddyFerriswas.Heknewthere
wasapossibilityofswimmersbeingpresent.DustinBeaverisoutofexcuses.Hemaderecklesschoices
andheknewit.Otherwisehewouldnthavecheckedhisboatpropellerandcuthishand,causinghimto
gotothehospital.
Ladiesandgentlemenyouhaveheardthewitnessstatementsofeveryoneinvolved,eachside
providingalloftheevidencetheyhave.Basedontheevidencepresentedtoyouandyourownpersonal
judgement,achoiceliesbeforeyou,andaserioustaskisathand.Wehavemadetheanswerclearthat
thedefendantshouldbechargedwithaggravatedmanslaughter.Wehaveproventhatthedefendant
causedFreddyFerrissdeath,anddiditsorecklessly,bydrivingtheboatnegligently.Thesearethe
elementsofDustinBeaverscrime.Thestatehasmetitsburdenofproof&itstimetoapplyevidenceto
thelaw.DustinBeaverisbeyondreasonabledoubtguiltyandFreddyFerrispaysforDustinsmistake
withhislife.