A jury is expected to hear closing arguments this morning in the manslaughter trial of Robert LaPointe in Cumberland County Superior Court in Portland.
LaPointe, 39, of Medway, Mass., is charged with manslaughter, aggravated drunken driving and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon.
He was operating his 32-foot boat on the night of Aug. 11, 2007, when he ran over a 14-foot motorboat on Long Lake in Harrison. Terry Raye Trott, 55, of Harrison and Suzanne Groetzinger, 44, of Berwick were killed. The trial began with jury selection on Sept. 8.
A blood test showed LaPointe had a 0.11 percent blood alcohol content three hours after the crash. Maine's legal limit to operate a boat or a motor vehicle is 0.08 percent.
Prosecutors and several witnesses also said that LaPointe's alleged speed, at least 45 mph, was reckless for night boating.
Defense lawyers have described the crash as a tragic accident. They say LaPointe was not intoxicated and that Trott's boat didn't have any lights on.
LaPointe's attorneys also contended that the result of the blood test is not reliable for a number of reasons, including the fact that it sat in a warden's truck for 34 hours before it was analyzed.
On the stand Friday, LaPointe said he was going only 30 mph when the boats collided and that he drank only three beers that day. LaPointe also disputed the testimony of a nurse, who testified that LaPointe suggested that she draw her own blood instead of his when she was about to take a sample.
The trial began with 12 jurors and three alternates. Two of the jurors, however, were dismissed over the course of the trial for medical reasons. That leaves only one alternate, which could be a problem if other jurors need to be excused.
After closing arguments, Justice Robert Crowley will give the jurors final instructions and they will begin deliberations. Each of the two counts of manslaughter, the most serious charges, carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
Staff Writer Trevor Maxwell can be contacted at 791-6451 or at:
tmaxwell@pressherald.com
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