Tag Archives: Deborah King

Attorney For Deborah King Wants No Mention Of ‘Victim’, ‘Reckless’ or ‘Impaired’

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Next we may hear how Joel Woods ruined King’s life by being in an accident

Deborah King
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The attorney, Heather Rogers, is so adamant about the point that she doesn’t even want Woods referred to as a “victim” in front of the jury as King is tried for murdering him by driving under the influence.

Rogers also tried some novel strategies, including asking the judge to prevent prosecutors and witnesses from referring to Woods as a “victim” in front of the jury, calling the word a “legal conclusion” that could place King in a negative light. She said the death of Woods was accidental, not criminal, and that only a crime could have a victim.

But the judge disagreed. “‘Victim’ is not a legal conclusion — it’s a word people use every day not anywhere near this courthouse,” Scott said. He concluded trying to remove it from witnesses’ vocabulary would be “impossible.”

Rogers also wanted witnesses, including a woman who dialed 911, to be forbidden from using the terms, “impaired,” and “reckless” when testifying against King.

Attorney For Deborah King Wants No Mention Of ‘Victim’, ‘Reckless’ or ‘Impaired’

Deborah King Trial: Son Of Victim Will Testify

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PGMS J Woods Flowers

Jurors in the trial of a Monterey woman charged with murder in the vehicular death of a Pacific Grove father will hear a first-person account of the accident from the victim’s 15-year-old son.

The prosecutor and defense attorney agreed to let Jacob Woods, who is mildly autistic, testify by videotape to spare him the pain of attending the trial of Deborah King.

The road to that trial has veered five times since 2008, as psychiatrists evaluated King’s competency to assist in her own defense. In 2009, she spent nine months in a state mental hospital before a final evaluation deemed her ready for trial.

The road to the trial has veered? Is that appropriate for the story of an alleged DUI careening into a father & child?

Deborah King Trial: Son Of Victim Will Testify

Deborah King Offers 200 Gs To Settle With Fatherless Family

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Deborah King
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But a PGUSD attorney filed a motion opposing the settlement offer contending it “would be grossly disproportionate” since King “bears all (or nearly all) liability” for the crash, court records say. “Ms. King is settling a multi-million lawsuit for $200,000, which bears no relationship to her potential liability,” according the motion filed by PGUSD attorney David W. Balch.

Deborah King Offers 200 Gs To Settle With Fatherless Family

Deborah King Was Driving Reckless Says Witnesses

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Please, never let this inconsiderate druggie behind the wheel again.

Deborah King
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Deborah King will stand trial in the death of Joel Woods, who died after he was struck by King’s SUV as he picked up his son at Pacific Grove Middle School.

Toxicology reports described at the hearing showed that King, 52, had traces of eight different drugs in her system at the time of the accident on Sept. 2, 2008.

She had prescriptions for seven of them, and most were at “therapeutic levels.” The other drug was a small quantity of THC, a chemical found in marijuana, which could have entered her system weeks earlier.

Officer John Purdam, the first to respond to the accident, said he was told by a witness that King nearly rear-ended her at the Highway 1 exit onto Monterey-Salinas Highway moments before she crashed into Woods’ truck, which was parked at the curb outside the school at 835 Forest Ave.

A second witness told Purdam that she saw King’s vehicle drifting out of its lane and weaving through traffic as it approached the school.

Deborah King Was Driving Reckless Says Witnesses

Deborah King Declared Fit For Trial

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In prison or a mental facility, King will never be free to operate a car again. That’s good.

Deborah King In Court

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Prosecutor Steve Somers confirmed Tuesday that Deborah King is being returned to Monterey County to face prosecution for allegedly running down 35-year-old Joel Woods as he was picking up his son outside Pacific Grove Middle School on Sept. 2, 2008.

King, who has five drunken-driving convictions in Kern County, is charged with murder and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Somers alleges that she was under the influence of prescription drugs when the accident occurred.

Deborah King Declared Fit For Trial

Deborah King Sent To Mental Hospital Instead Of Court

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Deborah King
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The young father was picking up his son, Jacob, in front of Pacific Grove Middle School Sept. 2, 2008, when Deborah King allegedly ran him down in her BMW SUV. Though she was arrested and later charged with murder and gross vehicular manslaughter, King has yet to face a trial.

 

But that doesn’t sit well with Summer Coe, a good friend of the Woods family, who believes King — with five previous DUI convictions on her record — should pay for her fatal error.

 

“I am outraged that she has yet to face any charges,” Coe said. “It seems that she kind of got away with playing the victim card, where someone else might have been held accountable.”

Going to Patton State Hospital. Does not sound like a cakewalk..

L.A. Times 12/10/2008:

At least one psychiatrist at Patton said he believed conditions have worsened during the period of federal oversight, in part because of a sharp increase in demand for documentation that he says has left clinicians less time for patient care.

 

“Everyone is so fatigued doing paperwork,” said the psychiatrist, who asked not to be named out of fear it could jeopardize his job. “The assault rate has increased.”

Data posted on the website of the state Department of Mental Health show there have been recent increases in patient-on-patient aggression resulting in major injury as well as increases in the number of self-inflicted major injuries.

Deborah King Sent To Mental Hospital Instead Of Court

This Month, Deborah King Is Not Competent

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What will it be next month?

Deborah King

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The murder case against King, who had been in treatment at Natividad Medical Center but is back in custody at the Monterey County Jail, cannot proceed until she is aware of the proceedings. She underwent similar evaluations for competency in the weeks following her arrest, was treated and deemed fit, and had been set for a preliminary hearing last week, when her mental state was again brought into question.

This Month, Deborah King Is Not Competent

Another Evaluation For Deborah King

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If she thought she well enough to drive, shouldn’t she be well enough to go to court?Deborah King

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Judge Terrance Duncan appointed a psychiatrist to examine Deborah King at the request of her defense attorney, Daniel Clymo. King was to have faced a preliminary hearing Friday. She will return to court Wednesday to receive the doctor’s report.

It is the fourth time King is being evaluated for her ability to aid in her own defense. One doctor found her competent, and another found her incompetent but re-evaluated and agreed that she had been stabilized with medication.

Clymo told Duncan this week he believes King has worsened and asked that she be examined again.

Another Evaluation For Deborah King

Lawsuit Against City In Middle School Death

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Just a few years ago drop offs were banned on the west side of Forest. Someone was thinking about the danger then.
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“The drop-off/pickup area in front of Pacific Grove Middle School was set up in a dangerous location,” the claim contends.

But moving the drop-off area doesn’t mean another tragedy won’t occur, Blakely said. “An out-of-control driver on any of those streets could cause the same accident,” he said.

The Woodses are seeking at least $3 million in the claim, which was received by the city Nov. 21. The city, which has 45 days to respond, will likely deny the claim, at which point Brady said the family might file a lawsuit. “We are waiting for the city’s next move,” Brady said.

Lawsuit Against City In Middle School Death