Nathan Carman trial: insurance company lawyer says it was ‘predictable’ that boat would sink after Carman made changes
"He left Point Judith with holes in his boat and 12 hours later it sank,"
Carman, whose insurance companies are refusing to pay an
Farrell said in his opening statement that a hypothermia expert will testify there is little chance Carman was drifting in a life raft for a week before his rescue. He said a physician from
Farrell also said that an oceanographic expert from the
In his opening statement, Carman's attorney
Woods sold the Chicken Pox, with a recently rebuilt turbo diesel engine, to Carman for
"I didn't think it was very prudent he take the boat from
"I was concerned about his lack of respect for the ocean," Woods said.
But under cross examination by Anderson, Woods admitted he didn't remember how he installed the trim tabs that Carman later removed from the boat before the ill-fated trip in
The tabs are a key part of the case because Carman removed them and left holes that insurers say he didn't properly fill.
"I remember installing the trim tabs but the exact fittings I used and exactly how I installed them I can't recall," Woods said. "I have a very good memory so I'm stumped why I can't remember how I installed the trim tabs."
Carman has acknowledged drilling holes dangerously close to the water line to remove the tabs and filling them with an epoxy. He also has said he replaced a bilge pump before that trip. Carman told authorities that the boat started taking on water and sank quickly and that he managed to jump onto a life raft -- but that he didn't see what happened to his mother.
Carman didn't activate the emergency beacon on his boat, despite having opportunity to do so. He was rescued eight days later by a freighter.
Before starting with evidence Tuesday, McConnell said the trial will focus on three issues -- whether Carman breached his duty to the insurance company by not informing them of work he did on the boat, whether the repairs he made were faulty and whether he knew the Chicken Pox was not seaworthy when it left Point Judith late on the evening of
It is unclear how long the truncated trial will last but McConnell has set a 15-hour limit on each lawyer for the amount of time for everything from direct examination, cross examination and arguments.
His three aunts have accused
In June, a probate judge in
Chakalos was found in his
The bullets used in the murder are similar to what a
Latest
--
-- Breaking News
Man charged with destroying Door Tree says hatred for relative drove vandalism
2h
--
-- Food & Drink
2h
--
--
Farrell planned to call not only the clerk who sold Carman the rifle in 2013, but also a ballistics expert to testify about whether the gun could have been the murder weapon.
In the
Law enforcement officials have been monitoring both legal cases and were expected to have representatives at both trials to hear Carman testify about the murder and the boat sinking.
___
(c)2019 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.)
Visit The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.) at www.courant.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Breathe Life Introduces Advisor Experience for Insurance Carriers to Empower Agents With Powerful Tools to Attract, Acquire, and Retain Clients
San Jose Earthquakes Tap 8×8 to Improve Communications On and Off the Field
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News