An Oklahoma jury deliberated for nearly four hours on December 7, before convicting an Oklahoma man on two charges related to a fatal car accident that occurred in 2010. The jury returned guilty verdicts of first-degree manslaughter and DUI with great bodily injury against Vincent Blaine Sixkiller, who was charged in 2010 for a four-vehicle …
An Oklahoma jury deliberated for nearly four hours on December 7, before convicting an Oklahoma man on two charges related to a fatal car accident that occurred in 2010. The jury returned guilty verdicts of first-degree manslaughter and DUI with great bodily injury against Vincent Blaine Sixkiller, who was charged in 2010 for a four-vehicle crash that resulted in the death of Robert Ukena and the severe injury of Michelle Schartz. Upon delivering its verdict, the jury recommended that the defendant serve eight years in prison on the manslaughter charge and four years on the DUI charge. If you have been arrested for a DUI offense in Oklahoma, particularly if the charges include a DUI-related manslaughter offense, don’t hesitate to protect your legal rights. Contact our experienced DUI defense attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center to discuss your possible defense options.
State’s Evidence Called into Question By Defense
In the fatal accident that occurred on November 13, 2010, Enid Police Department Officer Jeff Suttmiller reported that he estimated Sixkiller’s speed at 55-60 mph in a 45 mph zone. Sgt. Kevin Bezdicek also testified in the trial, claiming that he saw the defendant swaying, and noted red, watery eyes, slurred speech, and an odor of alcohol on his breath. During the trial, the defense brought numerous aspects of the state’s evidence into question, including the blood alcohol tests conducted on blood taken from Sixkiller following the collision, missing testimonies from the nurse who drew blood from the defendant and emergency responders at the scene of the crash, and the lack of evidence proving that the defendant had been drinking on the night of the accident.
Contact Our DUI Defense Attorneys Today
If he was convicted on the manslaughter and DUI with great bodily injury charges, Sixkiller would have faced at least four years in jail and a fine of up to $5,000 on the first count, in addition to one to five years in jail on the second count. The Oklahoma jury, however, recommended that the defendant serve prison terms well beyond the minimum, ensuring that he remain in prison for the next decade or more. If you are facing charges for drunk driving or DUI-related manslaughter in Oklahoma, your first course of action should be to enlist the help of our qualified defense lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center. Our criminal defense attorneys have extensive experience litigating DUI cases across the state, and will work diligently to help you build a strong defense in your case. The rest of your life could depend on the outcome of your DUI case; let our reputable DUI defense attorneys represent you in court.