Death Penalty for Drunk Driver Sought
- Share via
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
For the first time, prosecutors in North Carolina are seeking the death sentence for a person convicted in a drunk driving case. Thomas Richard Jones was convicted of murder in the Sept. 4 deaths of Wake Forest University students Maia Witzl, 19, of Arlington, Texas, and Julie Hansen, 19, of Rockville, Md. Four other students were injured in the crash. Under state law, a person who kills another while committing a separate dangerous felony can be prosecuted for first-degree murder, whether the death was intentional or not.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
