LAKEPORT — The trial of a Kelseyville man accused of causing a fatal car crash more than three years ago was delayed again Friday, bringing pain and disappointment to the sister of the woman killed in the violent collision.
“I”m just so upset right now,” Trina Armstrong said. “She was such an awesome, caring person and to be disgraced like this has gotten to me so bad.”
Armstrong”s sister, Laytonville resident Charlane Hill, died Sept. 11, 2009 after a crash at the intersection of highways 29 and 175 in Lakeport.
The family hasn”t yet scattered Hill”s ashes in the ocean, wanting to wait until the trial ends. “She”s still sitting here at home,” Armstrong said through tears.
Alejandro Aurelio Arias, who pleaded not guilty to four felonies in connection with Hill”s death, was set to stand trial next week but scheduling issues forced court officials to postpone the proceedings until November.
“The family is disturbed. We made plans to be there on the 24th,” Armstrong said.
Judge David W. Herrick Friday morning rescheduled Arias” trial for Nov. 7 because there were no judges or courtrooms available to handle the trial during the next two weeks.
“I”m really concerned about the court system in Lake County,” Armstrong said. “For the rest of the community, I just don”t want anybody else to have to go through this for years.”
The delay also impacted Arias, in custody at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility since March 2010 awaiting his day in court.
“He is very anxious to get this going,” Doug Rhoades, Arias” public defender, said.
The deadline by which his trial must begin expires Oct. 31, but the court can push the start out as many as 10 days beyond that expiration date, Rhoades added.
As a result, the trial should get under way almost two months after the three-year anniversary of the crash.
Authorities allege Arias sped through the junction”s red light about 100 mph and collided with the car driven by Hill, 41. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her two passengers suffered major injuries.
Arias, 31, is charged with second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and two counts of reckless driving causing injury.
The trial has faced a number of delays, with the most significant occurring after Arias successfully petitioned the court for a new public defender in October 2011.
Rhoades” availability became an issue earlier this year because he was involved in a separate murder trial that spanned nearly five months.
The series of postponements continue to cause anguish for Hill”s family, Armstrong said.
“We are starting to wonder if my sister has any rights in any of this,” she added. “We just want closure.”
Arias is set to appear in court Nov. 1 for final trial scheduling.
Jeremy Walsh is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. Reach him at 263-5636, ext. 37 or jwalsh@record-bee.com. Follow him on Twitter, @JeremyDWalsh.
