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NASCAR champion will not be charged over death

Friday, September 26 2014 by SNTV
  • Intro:

    Prosecutors in the United states said on Wednesday (24th September) that three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart will not be charged relation to to the death of fellow driver Kevin Ward Jr. at a sprint car race in upstate New York last month.

    Script:

    SOUNDBITE (English): Michael Tantillo, Ontario County District Attorney:

    "This week an Ontario County grand jury has been meeting to hear testimony and review evidence gathered in the Tony Stewart matter related to Kevin Ward at the Canadaguia Motor Speedway on August 9th, 2014. The grand jury has today completed its investigation. During the course of the grand jury presentation approximately two dozen witnesses testified. These included a number of drivers, race track employees and volunteers, two accident reconstructionists, medical personnel and a number of police officers. In addition the grand jury reviewed a number of photographs and video recordings, as well as and other documentary evidence. After listening to and questioning all of the witnesses, in reviewing all of the evidence, the grand jury has determined that there is no basis to charge Tony Stewart with any crimes. This case was therefore no-billed by the grand jury."

    SOUNDBITE (English): Michael Tantillo, Ontario County District Attorney:

    "There were no reports that were presented. There is toxicology evidence in the case relating to Kevin Ward that actually indicated that, at the time of operation, he was under the influence of marijuana. There was no toxicology work performed on Tony Stewart, however a certified drug recognition expert had interviewed him on the night of the collision and determined that he found no basis to observe any of alcohol consumption or impairment by drugs."

    SOUNDBITE (English): Michael Tantillo, Ontario County District Attorney:

    "Well, they had - basically I made it a goal to present every witness to the grand jury that had any possible relevant evidence to offer. So they did comprise the witnesses the various categories of personnel that I described here. And their job was to determine whether or not - based upon all of the evidence that they heard, all of the testimony that they heard - whether there was reasonable cause to believe that Tony Stewart had committed a crime or not. Obviously, their vote was that they did not reach that finding."

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