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Jury Sees Boats Involved in Fatal Long Lake Accident

September 17, 2008 - PORTLAND -- Jurors in the double manslaughter trial of Robert LaPointe had a chance to view the two boats involved in the Aug. 11, 2007, fatal collision on Long Lake in Harrison. Part of Federal Street near the Cumberland County Courthouse was blocked off this afternoon to position the boats for juror viewing.

2:05 p.m. update: Jurors are currently hearing testimony from a state witness about reconstruction of the accident, in which LaPointe's 32-foot Sunsation Dominator collided with a 14-foot Glasspart runabout. The people in the smaller boat, 55-year-old Terry Raye Trott of Harrison and 44-year-old Suzanne Groetzinger of Berwick, were killed.

12:19 p.m. A state chemist continued to testify this morning in the double manslaughter trial of Robert LaPointe.Stephen Pierce, who analyzed the results of a blood sample taken from LaPointe, told jurors that his blood alcohol level was likely 0.15 percent at the time of a fatal boat crash last summer.Maine's legal limit to operate a boat or car is 0.08 percent. Pierce used the blood test result, showing LaPointe's level at 0.11 percent three hours after the crash, and then worked backward in time to come up with the estimate.On cross examination, Pierce has defended his methods and the procedures of the state Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory. Lead defense lawyer J. Albert Johnson has asked questions that raise doubts about the reliability of the blood test, and the estimate provided by Pierce.Pierce is expected to be back on the stand after lunch.LaPointe, 39, of Medway, Mass., faces manslaughter and other charges stemming from a boat crash that killed two people on Long Lake in Harrison on Aug. 11, 2007. Terry Raye Trott, 55, of Harrison and Suzanne Groetzinger, 44, of Berwick were killed.

By TREVOR MAXWELL, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald, September 15, 2008


Lakes: Long Lake
Regions: Sebago


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