Man found guilty in Norfolk DUI crash that killed three

NORFOLK

A jury found a man guilty Thursday of driving drunk and killing three passengers in a high-speed crash last year. Craig A. Watson, 32, was convicted of three counts of aggravated involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence in a crash on East Indian River Road.

Three passengers died: Paris Shorter, 18; Marquita S. Walker, 19; and Karnell W. Faulkner, 29.

A jury recommended a 25-year sentence, with eight years on each of three manslaughter charges and the maximum one-year sentence for DUI. Watson faced between three and 60 years in prison for the manslaughter charges. A formal sentencing is scheduled for January.

At the four-day trial, prosecutors introduced evidence that blood drawn from Watson after the crash showed a blood alcohol content of more than three times the 0.08 percent legal limit for driving. Defense attorney Herman Smith argued that Watson had control of the car until a front-seat passenger grabbed the wheel and caused the crash.

Four men, including Watson, met four teenage women at the Oceanfront on Aug. 10, 2010, according to court testimony. The group decided to rent a hotel room, drink and party, witnesses said.

The party broke up after midnight, and one man remained at the hotel and one woman made it home safely. Watson took the wheel of his friend's car and planned to drive everyone else to another destination, according to the testimony.

Prosecutor Patricia O'Boyle told jurors the car was speeding in excess of 100 mph during the trip. It crashed through a guardrail and into several trees in the 1800 block of E. Indian River Road, near the former Ford Motor Co. plant, according to testimony. The vehicle came to rest on the front porch of a house.

Three of the six people in the car survived.

O'Boyle said the details of the party were irrelevant. What mattered, she told jurors, was that a blood test on Watson taken after the crash showed a high level of alcohol even five hours after the wreck.

Robert Shorter, father of Paris Shorter, said he is relieved and happy with the verdict. He said he thought the jury sent a clear message: Drunken driving will not be tolerated.

Although, he added, "It's not fair for me. I don't have Paris anymore."

Shorter raised his daughter as a single parent during her teenage years. Shortly before her death, he said, he gave her more freedom because she had turned 18.

"Teenagers are something else," he said, but, "I loved Paris to death."

Louis Hansen, (757) 446-2341, louis.hansen@pilotonline.com