Photo: Warren County Sheriff's Office
There's been a bombshell development in the case of a Queensbury man charged in the fatal boat accident last summer that took the life of an 8-year old on Lake George. According the court papers, 24-year Alexander West tested positive for marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy but the Warren County D.A.'s office says they WILL NOT PRESENT THAT BLOOD EVIDENCE TO THE JURY!!!
This is a huge break for West. The district attorney's office says that the warrant for the chemical analysis didn't conform with technical requirements of the law. In other words, somebody, somewhere along the line, screwed-up big time on procedures that should probably be routine in these type of cases.
West's attorney now wants the case thrown out. West faces up to 22 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter and other charges. It's alleged he was impaired while piloting his vessel, crashed into the boat carrying the 8-year old and her family... then sped away and hid from authorities, leaving the screaming survivors in his wake.
Kelly and I spoke to WGY Legal Analyst Paul Harding this morning. He says despite other eyewitnesses on West's boat that night, the prosecution's case could be in real trouble. - Chuck