Bryan Schmitt, associate corporate counsel and director of contracts for Manhattan Associates, says “he saw a man on the side of the road next to a trash can making “a throwing motion with his arm” before he ‘saw a white object’ strike his car.” At that point, Schmitt told investigators that he confronted the guy who threw a trash can and in the process of swerving to avoid that, the guy was struck — receiving injuries that led to his death.
Prosecutors charged Schmitt with murder, felony murder and aggravated assault because the rest of the evidence suggests to law enforcement that Schmitt was much more direct in using his car as a weapon:
However, surveillance footage and witness statements contradicted Schmitt’s account, the criminal complaint states. One neighbor, a nurse, allegedly witnessed Schmitt attempting to pull Jahangard’s body from underneath his car and told him to stop and wait for paramedics to arrive, stating that Schmitt “ran him over” rather than knocked him down, according to WSB-TV.
In either case, it’s a reminder that a car is a deadly weapon even if law professors get to joke about vehicular homicide.
Atlanta lawyer killed victim with Mercedes after car was struck with golf ball, prosecutors say [ABC News]
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.