A Juneau man facing second-degree murder charges after a fatal car crash this summer appeared in Juneau Superior Court for further proceedings Thursday.
The trial for Ryan W. West, 25, who pleaded not guilty in September, is still slated to begin Dec. 5, Judge Louis Menendez said in court.
West’s lawyer David Seid asked for an extension of the motion filing deadline, which was Thursday, since one of the tape recordings he requested was not a complete recording.
It’s likely that questions about whether alcohol was involved in the single-vehicle crash that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Gabriel Carte will arise during the trial.
“Ryan says he wasn’t (drunken driving), but under the state’s theory, they’re charging a guy who had no alcohol or no drugs in his system for second-degree murder,” Seid said outside the courtroom. “That doesn’t make sense.”
Juneau Police Department officers who responded to the scene determined speed and alcohol to be factors in the crash, which occurred near Mile 35 of Glacier Highway on June 6.
West was indicted by a grand jury in August on one count of second-degree murder, an unclassified felony punished by a fine of up to $500,000 and a maximum of 99 years in jail. West remains in custody at Lemon Creek Correctional Center.
The next status hearing in the case is scheduled for Nov. 28.
Note: this article was modified to reflect corrections made after press time.
• Contact reporter Emily Russo Miller at 523-2263 or at emily.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (3)
Add commentI'm Curious
How many chances are enough? How many fortuitous breaks and lame-a** excuses should one be allowed to use? This kids has been provided every opportunity to turn his life around and get himself headed in the proper direction and yet his actions and words prove that getting squared away isn't his goal at all. In the meantime he's proven time and time again to be, not only a danger to himself but, a danger to the community at large. Let him rot somewhere safely removed from society. Rest assured that whatever he gets won't be nearly enough.
My opinion
This is not a judgement of his life. This guy does not seem to have intended for the death of his friend, so I really don't see it being second degree murder. Involuntary manslaughter, sure, I could see that, because they were speeding/driving recklessly. Regardless of if they were drinking, its not second degree. Law is not about what people think other people deserve, it is about the crime they are charged for. I think he should definitely be charged for what was done. If its justice for the crime, and nothing else we're talking about, then he wont get second degree murder, because that needs a intent to kill. Hopefully they get the charge right.
2nd degree murder isn't going to fly.
Neg. Homicide or Involuntary Man., at best.
He'll either learn positively from whatever prison time over this, or he'll continue his journey down the drain.
So far, Ryan hasn't learned anything. He needs to stop talking - put up or shut up. Start doing the right thing and stop telling folks what he thinks they want to hear...cuz it's all B$ and no one wants to HEAR him change, they want to SEE the change.