Culpeper County Commonwealth's Attorney Gary Close has filed a petition in Circuit Court asking Judge Jack Berry to provide his office with up to $15,000 to pay an expert witness to testify in a traffic accident case that killed four people.
Close, who had first tried to get the money from the Board of Supervisors but pulled back that request last week, filed his court petition late Monday.
The commonwealth's attorney is seeking funds to hire Dr. William Christopher Winter of Charlottesville to testify in the May trial of Eugene T. Green. Green is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter stemming from an automobile accident on State Route 3 March 22.
Green is accused of driving on the wrong side of the road when he crashed into another car. Killed in the crash were Tianna Jones, Tyler Harlow, Joseph Sahnow and James Cook.
In the affidavit filed Monday, Close states that Green had been awake for 20 straight hours when the late night crash occurred and had slept only six or seven hours during the previous 48-hour period.
The court document further states that Green told police that he was unsure what lane he was in when he saw the approaching headlights.
Close said that Winter, who is a sleep-deprivation expert and has worked with several professional sports teams, would testify as to Green's physical condition at the time of the wreck.
The affidavit alleges that Green had driven 165 miles that day and had spent 12 hours moving furniture in Northern Virginia.
No date has been set for a hearing on the request.
Close has indicated that if he doesn't get the money from the court, he will return to the Board of Supervisors in February.
Donnie Johnston:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com