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Trial begins today for Edith Delgado
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REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (Map, News) - The long-anticipated trial of Edith Delgado, the 19-year-old Redwood City woman accused of driving recklessly in a crash that killed two members of the Tongan royal family and their driver, is scheduled to begin today.
Prosecutors say on July 5, 2006, Delgado was “dangerously” switching lanes in her Ford Mustang on U.S. Highway 101 in Menlo Park. She was allegedly driving in excess of 85 mph when she struck the sport utility vehicle carrying the royal couple as she tried to pass. The SUV rolled over several times, killing the three passengers.
Delgado faces up to eight years in prison for the deaths of Prince Tu’ipelehake, 56, and Princess Kaimana, 46, who were on a diplomatic mission, and their driver, Vinisia Hefa, 36, an East Palo Alto resident. Delgado was arrested at the scene for reckless driving and subsequently passed sobriety tests.
Prosecutors have said that at the time of the crash, witnesses reported seeing her racing a black Cadillac Escalade.
Prosecutors are not saying whether there are any suspects in the racing incident.
“We expect the trial to begin as planned,” said Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, who believes jury selection and opening statements may be completed by the end of the day today. The trial start date of March 19 was delayed because an expert witness for the defense was hospitalized with a serious illness.
Delgado has pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. She has been in custody on $1 million bail, which has been reduced since her initial bail was set at $3 million.
Delgado’s attorney, Randy Moore — who has not returned recent calls for comment — said in a February interview that the incident was a tragic traffic accident and that Delgado was not recklessly speeding.
“There were allegations that either she was racing her car down the roadway or that she was going at speeds of 90 mph and all of those allegations have triggered the prosecution in this case. It’s not true that she was racing,” Moore said in the interview. “This was just an accident. It wasn’t gross negligence and it wasn’t criminal.”
Comments from Examiner Readers
7:37 PM MST on Tue., Aug. 26, 2008 re: "Tongan community mixed on crash trial"
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8:44 PM MST on Tue., Nov. 20, 2007
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8:52 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 15, 2007
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11:25 AM MST on Wed., Jun. 13, 2007
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9:32 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 12, 2007
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1:21 AM MST on Sat., Jun. 2, 2007
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10:42 PM MST on Thu., May. 31, 2007
re: "Trial in death of Tongan royals is delayed 60 days"
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10:05 PM MST on Thu., May. 31, 2007
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2:06 PM MST on Tue., May. 29, 2007
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4:48 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 21, 2007
re: "Trial in death of Tongan royals is delayed 60 days"
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Examiner Reader said:
What ever... The imbisule little girl is going to go through it reguardless getting beat up by the Tongan girls in jail and she going to get beaten up when she out of jail and trust me thats a FACT... Lol.. Anyways all Im going to say is Yes that is my Uncle and Aunty who died... Its sad how you guys who is on Edith side can just come up on here and add your little whack two sense... All I know is what if it was the President Bush... Yeah trust me the dumb broad would be sentence to death and you all know that... So I suggest you think again and put yourself in my place and see how it would feel if someone was speeding on the freeway and sideswiped your Uncle and Aunty especially if they were the Islands only chance to help the people of Tonga.... God Bless to all and I dont have no remorse for that chick Edith what ever her name is because I know she has her coming... Trust ME!!! Malo...
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tongan girl said:
much respect and love to the royal family in tonga and for the ones that died in the crash that night and for my peoples. no disrespect for the one's that disagree with me but i think we should just forgive her for what she done.. its not like she did it on purpose..i mean it could of been anybody?!? she has to live with this for the rest of her life. even if she is locked up or not..but what can we do but wait and see what they say..only she knows what happend that night so if she is lying then that lie will haunt her down..anyways one love!
134 agree | 127 disagree
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Rewood City Resident said:
We must ask, would she get a $1 million bail and 3 felony counts if the deceased weren't "royal?" If you think no then this is wildly trumped up. 85mph on 101 is nothing, 85 is regular traffic speed. Our country was founded on a system that deliberately avoided special treatment for royals. The underlying problem is diplomatic immunity. When I lived near Wash DC everyone feared and hated the cars with diplomatic plates, they do whatever they want and the law lets them go, in this case the law is overreacting on their behalf posthumously.
228 agree | 221 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Let her free!! This was an acciden't.
202 agree | 218 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This is all BS I have never seen speeding turn into a manslaughter charge, letthat girl go back to her family, the victims are already suing Ford motors what more do they want
203 agree | 196 disagree
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Albert B. Franklin, Redwood City said:
Also in today's Examiner, "Forty years ago, love broke color barrier," where an interracial couple was even arrest for their marriage which ended when a drunk driver killed Richard Loving and took the right of of Mildred Loving. When the king of Tonga poked fun in the New Zealand press over a Russian with mafiya ties that liberated some $200,000,000 from Tongan royals, as the king dubbed the culprit a joker. Nowhere in the would could he go to excape the laughter! Here we have on America's shores where California's superfamily is extinct, as Tongan royals roamed the streets of Whiskey Gulch, unabated until a 19 year old decided to get dressed, and to get out of bed.
217 agree | 210 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If the SUV wasn't driving that slow it would never have been it. It is the SUV's fault. if it wants to drive so slow it should move over to the rightt lane
256 agree | 275 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I truly amazes me when I read about people that are so quick to try, convict, and sentence a person that has not been found guilty in a court of law. This is certainly one of the MOST tragic events that I have been so closely touched by. Edith is a friend to my daughter and barely 18 when the accident occurred. My heart goes out the the families and friends of those who have lost their loved ones. It also goes out to Edith and her family and friends. I ask that those of you that have already convicted her of "racing" should understand that news is often sensationalized to increase readership. How dare any of us to revoke anyone's right to be innocent until proven guilty. I can say for certain that Edith is truly and deeply sorry and sad for all the lives that have been lost and for her innocence that has also been lost along the way. I pray forgiveness for her and comfort for those that have been hurt by this.
284 agree | 268 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
YES! THE RESULTS!!! she needs to spend 80 years..
266 agree | 235 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Keep us updated!
518 agree | 253 disagree
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Nick Taufui said:
Forgive here and let her enjoy here life. Please dont destroy here life because what had happened to the others. God forgive everybody for bad decision that they made.
277 agree | 265 disagree
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