Amandria Brunner found not guilty, reactions come in | FOX6 News Milwaukee

[00:00:00]For going present, the verdicts are not guilty on all six counts.

[00:00:05]>> The woman charged in connection with a crash that killed two Marquette University student athletes found not guilty on all charges today. Amondia Bruner is one of two drivers charged in the incident. April Pesciotta joins us live from the Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center in Franklin with details. April?

[00:00:26]>> That's right, you guys. It was a pretty swift swift verdict for the jury today with Bruner acquitted on all counts, uh including homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.

[00:00:38]>> For going present, the verdicts are not guilty on all six counts.

[00:00:41]As to count one, All right, leave.

[00:00:44]>> A shocking verdict in the Milwaukee County courtroom as a jury finds 42-year-old Amondia Bruner not guilty on all six counts for a deadly September crash. The collision killed 19-year-old Scott Michaud and 20-year-old Noah Snyder, both teammates on the Marquette University lacrosse team.

[00:01:02]>> I'm very happy for my client.

[00:01:04]Um I do believe that she was not at fault in this accident, um but my heart breaks for these families. I'm sure they feel like they didn't get justice.

[00:01:13]Um I I I'm sure that that feels very terrible for them, um and my heart does go out to them.

[00:01:18]>> Defense attorney Abigail Ridgeway says the trial has been an emotional ordeal for her client who has remained remorseful throughout the process.

[00:01:26]>> She cried through her preliminary hearing. She's cried through this entire trial. Um she is remorseful. She feels terrible.

[00:01:33]>> Prosecutors argued Bruner was intoxicated, but UW law professor John Gross says the case presented a highly unique and complicated set of circumstances for a jury.

[00:01:44]>> You have a collision between two drivers, and there's an allegation that one of the drivers, uh was intoxicated, but the other driver in the crash was speeding.

[00:01:59]>> That speed dictated the defense. Vehicle black box data showed Berner was stopped for 3 seconds before making a slow turn in the intersection. At the exact moment the Jeep carrying the athletes, driven by teammate Peter McGauglin, was traveling 53 mph. Prosecutors admitted McGauglin slammed on the accelerator to beat a yellow light going more than 20 miles over the limit. Gross says the verdict highlights how modern automotive technology is completely changing the landscape of criminal trials.

[00:02:29]>> Technology in our lives and the ability to record information store information it it it has really changed litigation to an incredible degree just in the past couple decades.

[00:02:43]>> And we reached out to the family so both Mashaud and Snyder both received no response and just about 20 minutes before this live shot Berner was finally released from the center. Reporting live in Franklin, April Preciado, Fox 6 News.

[00:02:57]>> And I can't imagine she made any comment at all. Did you were you able to get a close to her for any reaction?

[00:03:04]>> Uh her family was here but they were not wanting to speak at this time.

[00:03:09]>> I understand. We have video of that and we'll bring it to you tonight at 10.

[00:03:12]April, thank you so much.

[00:03:14]The Marquette student accused of driving that SUV, charged in the case, prosecutors say Peter McGauglin was going 53 mph, nearly double the speed limit, when he tried to beat a yellow light and hit the car that Berner was driving. He was charged last month with two counts of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle. He briefly took the stand yesterday while jurors were out of the courtroom and exercised his Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions. Fox 6 News has the complete statements from the defense team and some legal perspective on this case as seen on Wisconsin Live Desk today and you'll You those videos on Fox Local as well as the Fox 6 News Milwaukee YouTube channel.