Troupe Trial: Blood alcohol results called into question - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Troupe Trial: Blood alcohol results called into question

  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Friday, May 24 2013 12:30 PM EDT2013-05-24 16:30:17 GMT
    Criminals went to the back door of a house on South Street in Thomasville, and burst their way inside on Wednesday night. Police say they took several hundred dollars worth of electronics and a Yamaha
    Criminals went to the back door of a house on South Street in Thomasville, and burst their way inside on Wednesday night. Police say they took several hundred dollars worth of electronics and a Yamaha four-wheeler, and made a clean getaway.

  • Friday, May 24 2013 9:30 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:30:13 GMT
    Information from GA Pundit- Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield soldiers began Memorial Day observances Thursday. Several Gold Star Families - who like the Bookers have lost a family member to conflict
    Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield soldiers began Memorial Day observances Thursday. In 2013, Georgia lost 26 armed services members who gave their lives for us and their names were read in the State Capitol as part of our observance of Memorial Day.

  • Friday, May 24 2013 9:01 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:01:21 GMT
    LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Legal woes are piling up for the leader of Georgia's Democratic Party. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (http://bit.ly/199UTSo) that a lawsuit filed in Gwinnett County
    A lawsuit filed in Gwinnett County this week accuses Mike Berlon of failing to distribute nearly $1 million from a trust he created for a friend and his son.
    •   

August 25, 2006

Douglas -- Blood alcohol results are called into question as the defense begins its case in the Amanda Troupe vehicular homicide trial.  Troupe is charged with killing five children who were riding on an all terrain vehicle in Coffee County three years ago.  

A blood test showed Amanda Troupe's alcohol level was twice the legal limit the night she hit a four-wheeler head-on.  But the defense questions the hospital's procedure for drawing blood.

Emergency Room nurse, Christopher Ferguson told jurors he drew several vials of Troupe's blood, but could not directly recall whether it was drawn from an already established I.V. or if it was taken from her arm.

The defense is questioning whether an alcohol swab was used to draw the blood which could have affected the blood alcohol results.  "I obtained IV access, the labs were drawn, she was on a blood pressure cardiac and oxygen monitor," testified Christopher Ferguson, RN.

Amanda Troupe's sister Blaire Prescot also took the stand testifying she didn't remember seeing an iodine spot on her sister when she helped clean her up in the hospital room. An iodine swab would be one way the blood draw wouldn't be tainted by alcohol.

An accident recreation expert also testified today. The prosecution called 15 witnesses before resting their case.

Amanda Troupe took the stand to tell her side of the story of the tragedy. She told the court that she had consumed three beers before the collision that killed five children, including one that she had babysat when the girl was small.

She said that she awoke from the impact to find herself standing in the road, and tried to resuscitate a female victim that she found, but the girl's body was cold.

Troupe also said that the beer she consumed did not- in her judgement- adversely affect her driving skills, and under questioning said that she did not feel that she was to blame for the children's deaths.

If she is convicted, she faces a possible sentence of 91 years.

Feedback: news@walb.com?subject=TroupeFriday/JE