Appeals court judges hear Senser's appeal, have 90 days to rule
A three-judge appeals court panel has 90 days to rule on Amy Senser's appeal of her vehicular homicide conviction.
The judges listened to arguments Wednesday and questioned both Senser's lawyer and a Hennepin County prosecutor. As the Star Tribune reports, attorney Eric Nelson argued Senser cannot be guilty of homicide if she did not realize she had hit someone with her SUV.
Nelson argued the court can reasonably infer Senser did not know she'd fatally struck Anousone Phanthavong as he put gas in his car on a freeway exit ramp. Lee Barry of the Hennepin County Attorney's office argued the jury concluded she did not know and there's no reason to overturn the verdict.
Other issues raised in the appeal include a note from jurors that Nelson says shows potential confusion during the deliberations.
Senser is serving a 41-month prison sentence. The appellate judges could let her conviction stand, reverse it, or order a new trial.
