Peña Trial Set for June 9

Peña Trial Set for June 9

After two and a half years, it looks like the family of murdered Bus Operator William Pena will finally see his killer tried by a Manhattan Jury. Criminal Court Judge Gregory Carro said, "I'm certainly not going to wait forever," when defense attorney Laura Miranda asked for another adjournment to July so that an expert she wants can be free to testify.

After two and a half years, it looks like the family of murdered Bus Operator William Pena will finally see his killer tried by a Manhattan jury. Criminal Court Judge Gregory Carro said, “I’m certainly not going to wait forever,” when defense attorney Laura Miranda asked for another adjournment to July so that an expert she wants can be free to testify. Carro seemed to acknowledge the agonizing wait that Willie’s widow, Nancy Rodriguez, and his family – both immediate and in TWU Local 100 – has had to endure. On February 12, 2014, William Pena was killed when a bread truck driven by a drunken Domonic Whilby crashed into his M14 bus on 14th Street at around 5AM.

Carro noted that the Manhattan District Attorney put an offer on the table to Whilby of a sentence of 14 to 24 years on a plea to manslaughter, plus a term of 8 to 24 years on a plea to aggravated vehicular homicide. Both sentences would be served concurrently. Carro called it “a generous offer,” but Whilby’s attorney rejected it. Carro set a trial date for June 9th, and we’re asking all transit brothers and sisters to be there.