This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-26388429
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Kerry Kennedy acquitted in drug-driving case | Kerry Kennedy acquitted in drug-driving case |
(35 minutes later) | |
Kerry Kennedy, the daughter of late Senator Robert Kennedy, has been acquitted of drug-driving in New York. | Kerry Kennedy, the daughter of late Senator Robert Kennedy, has been acquitted of drug-driving in New York. |
Ms Kennedy, 54, could have faced up to a year in jail if convicted of the misdemeanour offence. | Ms Kennedy, 54, could have faced up to a year in jail if convicted of the misdemeanour offence. |
The human-rights activist was arrested after her car swerved into a truck on a highway in July 2012, an incident she said she could not remember. | The human-rights activist was arrested after her car swerved into a truck on a highway in July 2012, an incident she said she could not remember. |
She accidentally took a sleeping pill before the journey, her lawyers said, mistaking it for other medication. | She accidentally took a sleeping pill before the journey, her lawyers said, mistaking it for other medication. |
Failed sobriety tests | Failed sobriety tests |
"I'm happy justice was done," Ms Kennedy, who is the ex-wife of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, said following Friday's verdict. | "I'm happy justice was done," Ms Kennedy, who is the ex-wife of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, said following Friday's verdict. |
Ms Kennedy took a sleeping drug unintentionally - mistaking it for her daily thyroid medication - before driving to a local gym, her defence team told the court. | Ms Kennedy took a sleeping drug unintentionally - mistaking it for her daily thyroid medication - before driving to a local gym, her defence team told the court. |
Ms Kennedy's Lexus blew one of its tyres as it hit a truck. She was found disoriented and slumped at the steering wheel, witnesses said. | |
Police have said she failed several sobriety tests at the scene, but she passed tests at a police station a few hours later. | Police have said she failed several sobriety tests at the scene, but she passed tests at a police station a few hours later. |
Prosecutors argued that Ms Kennedy had realised she was impaired and should have stopped driving. | Prosecutors argued that Ms Kennedy had realised she was impaired and should have stopped driving. |
They said she was "responsible for the chain of events". | They said she was "responsible for the chain of events". |
Ms Kennedy's lawyers said it had been an accident, not a crime. | Ms Kennedy's lawyers said it had been an accident, not a crime. |
"If I realised I was impaired, I would have pulled over," she testified during her trial. | "If I realised I was impaired, I would have pulled over," she testified during her trial. |
Ms Kennedy's lawyer told reporters after the verdict: "The [district attorney] never should have brought this case in the first place." | Ms Kennedy's lawyer told reporters after the verdict: "The [district attorney] never should have brought this case in the first place." |
"Kerry Kennedy has the resources [to defend herself]," he added. "What about the person who doesn't?" | "Kerry Kennedy has the resources [to defend herself]," he added. "What about the person who doesn't?" |
Ms Kennedy is one of 11 children of Senator Kennedy, who was assassinated in Los Angeles during his campaign for US president in 1968. | Ms Kennedy is one of 11 children of Senator Kennedy, who was assassinated in Los Angeles during his campaign for US president in 1968. |
Previous version
1
Next version