Dr. James Corasanti walks toward the defense table following opening statements in his trial in Erie County Court, Thursday, April 26, 2012. {Pool photo by Derek Gee / Buffalo News}
Corasanti Wraps Up Testimony
Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Dr. James Corasanti has finished his testimony in his hit-and-run trial in Erie County Court.
Under cross examination during the Monday morning session, the defendant testified that he could've stopped and called for help, but didn't because he didn't see anything. He also said he didn't see the victim as he approached and didn't see her vault after the collision.
"It was truly an accident," Corasanti testified.
He also told prosecutor James Bargnesi that he didn't see the buckle in the car's hood; believed he was sitting properly in the car; didn't notice the passenger-side mirror was missing after the accident; and didn't notice that one headlight wasn't working properly after the accident.
Corasanti also testified that his car had "a lot of damage," much more than he expected. He also told Bargnesi that he saw blood, tissue, and damage on the car in his garage, but said he didn't know if it was human tissue.
He again reiterated that he didn't immediately call 911 because he didn't know it was a person that he had hit. He also said he called Tom Burton as a long time friend for advice on what to do.
Burton, who has years of experience in law enforcement, is a member of the Corasanti defense team.
Later, when asked why he told a neighbor after the accident that he had shamed his family and ruined his career, Corasanti testified that it wasn't because he'd been drinking.
When Bargnesi asked if the accident isn't alcohol-related, then why he would mention shaming his family and ruining his car, defense attorney Joel Daniels objected.
Corasant also says he doesn't remember telling a neighbor that he wasn't going to jail.
Corasanti also told Bargnesi that from the time of the accident thud to the time he refused to take the breathalyzer test, he hadn't consumed any additional alcohol.
Under further questioning from Daniels, Corasanti said he felt "personal guilt" because he couldn't help someone that he had hurt.
He also told Daniels that when he spoke to Office McGarvie from the Amherst Police Department he was feeling "bad" and wanted to do the right thing and not cause any more harm.
A pharmacology/toxicology expert from Mississippi -- who once taught at the University of Arkansas College of Medicine -- took the stand, questioning the test that yielded the blood-alcohol level (BAC) of Corasanti.
Dr. Jimmie Valentine told Daniels that Corasanti's BAC was not .10, as police testified. He says his analysis of the data -- involving the calibrators and controls in that test -- did not yield confidence in that test.
Monday's proceeding ended with David Liske of Fonthill, Ont. -- an associate with Liske Forensic Professionals, a firm that focused on accident reconstruction.
To begin the proceeding, Daniels again motioned for a mistrial - citing an article in the newspaper on Sunday that focused on the accident. The judge denied the motion, and when she questioned the jury, each member indicated that they hadn't read the article.
Judge DiTullio also announced that juror #4, Jason Roberts, was excused from duty, having received a chance to pursue a job as a corrections officer. The judge said all the attorneys involved agreed on the dismissal, and juror alternate #2 is the replacement.
Is this going to Joel's strategy, calling for a mistrial every 5 minutes. I guess he can see the handwriting on the wall. Good job Joel.
05/21/2012 12:52PM
Juror dismissed
Jury duty is tedious..also the ramifications put forward by defense and prosecution are inane. Find someone in this area who has not heard of this infamous trial and I will tell you they are lying.
This is not a sequestered jury..of course they read local periodicals. Corasanti's issues should take a back burner. I am so sick of updates on my 'phone and front page news regarding what's going on. He was wrong and she was also wrong. It's not a moot point because someone lost their life.
I had (still have) a very irresponsible daughter. When she was Alix's age my daughter was very much in my radar. Still is. I don't understand how a parent or parents would say - "Hey, it's cool. Ride your thingie home in the dark. " or whatever it was that transpired or didn't between this family unit.
I live in the Southtowns and the traffic is not nearly as bad as what occurs up North. I also drive at night so I do, on occasion, come across some misguided youth out on the streets. I refer to them as "sfb's". It's dangerous in the dark with no reflective clothing on or material on a moving device- read skateboard or bike.
05/21/2012 1:44PM
crying towel time
What a sob story. Daniels must have an acting coach on staff to present such a tearjerker.
05/22/2012 8:32AM
Questions ???
Some questions he should have been asked....
1.- If he wasn't drunk, why didn't he drive back to the scene instead of sending his wife?
2.- If he wasn't impared, why did he not drive to NOCO to meet the police?
3.- Why in a million years would he run down the street saying his career was ruined & he wasn't going to go to jail?
05/22/2012 9:56AM
The Face of Death
The doctor and his entire defense team spin a yarn so far-fetched and laden with holes that they better be praying for a mistrial. This arrogant man would have had to have been "under the weather" to not notice the enormous dent and damage to his death vehicle. He has by his insistence that he knew not what he hit and his persistence in dragging Alix's family through this turmoil instead of admitting the prosecution has abundantly shown and common-sense tells a reasonable person..... he panicked and ran.... made a terrible situation for the family all the more painful....but without ever realizing or perhaps considering the possibility Corasanti has made his face the very Face of Death for decades to come.
As to the danger of the dark....yes it is more dangerous to be out in the dark....that is why since recorded time we have huddled by fires and kept the night watch. Nevertheless the dark offers little danger compared to a 3 ton missile careening around in the dark....and for anyone who has actually visited the scene of this tragedy at night there are street lights that make it bright enough to toss a football at midnight....check it out for yourselves...and then consider how implausible the Doctor's story is.
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