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"For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 |
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CALENDAR |
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Friday, November 22, 2002: Christoper Bliss, arraigned in Saratoga County Court. Bliss was indicted by a grand jury and faces charges Of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular Manslaughter, first-degree reckless endangerment, Criminally negligent homicide and second degree Vehicular assault. |
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| Tuesday, November 26, 2002: Terry Tooker and Jason Carson appeared before Judge Clothier at the Corinth Town Court, for Sentencing of their involvement in the tragic death of Joelle DuMoulin on June 9, 2002. Both Tooker and Carson are charged with a misdemeanor – of road racing, fined $250.00 on the charges. In closing Judge Clothier stated to Tooker and Carson, “You both have a lot to live with, and it would be common decency for you to also bring flowers when you visit the gravesite of Joelle”. Judge Clothier further stated that you must inform Mr. DuMoulin and me of your visit. Terry Tooker and Jason Carson were operating the other vehicles in the early morning hours of the tragic crash. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - Bliss
is scheduled to appear in Saratoga County Court for a Huntley hearing.
The purpose of a Huntley hearing is to determine whether a confession is admissible. When a defense attorney seeks to suppress a client's confession on grounds that it was involuntary, the burden then is on the prosecution to prove that the statement was made voluntarily and is therefore admissible. The defense can argue that the statements were obtained as a result of actual physical violence OR the defense can argue that the statements were obtained from the defendant without having warned him of his rights (commonly known as Miranda rights). Also, the defense can argue that the statement was obtained as a result of illegal arrest. |
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| Tuesday, May 13, 2003 – Jury selection started today in Saratoga County Court. Sixty five prospective jurors arrived in court at 10:00AM A jury of 2 women and 10 men, and alternate jurors of 1 woman and 1 man were agreed upon by the prosecution, and the defense. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - Opening arguments begin at 10:00AM in the Saratoga County Court for the trial against Christopher Bliss. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, May 15, 2003 - The
Prosecution Rests. Several witnesses were called today to testify in the
case against Christopher Bliss. Among the witnesses for the people were: Jason Carson told the prosecution that he was in the second vehicle following Bliss during the early morning race on Angel Road Carson testified that he was traveling at a speed of 70 mph and he could not keep up with Bliss. He next saw Bliss’s truck when he came upon it as it sat upside down off the roadway. He also testified that Bliss told him not to call 911 until he could turn his truck right side up, in his testimony he also asked that Carson help in take the air out of the tires, and picked up a rock to break the ball joint. Carson testified that Bliss rocked the truck from side to side to try to flip it over even while Joelle was still pinned in the vehicle. Witnesses for the people were: Paramedic Mark DeSimone also testified for the people today. He stated that he was the first paramedic to arrive at the scene, he testified as to what he saw upon arriving at the scene. Paramedic Mark DeSimone stated that Joelle was pinned in the vehicle by the roof and dashboard due to the impact of hitting a tree on the passenger side of the vehicle. The Fire Chief and additional personnel were called to the accident scene to extricate Joelle from the vehicle using Jaws of Life. The process took approximately 15 minutes. They attempted standard emergency protocol in an attempt to revive Joelle as she was not breathing and they could not get a pulse. They then transported her to the Saratoga Emergency room. Paramedic Cory J. Nichols, testified to his assistance at the scene, with Mark DeSimone. In his assessment of the situation he spoke to Bliss. His evaluation of Bliss was that he was upset, but clear as to the situation. Investigator Robert Stampfli, testified regarding his overall investigation concerning the accident. In his interview with Bliss agreed to giving Investigator Stampfli a statement as to what happened that morning, he was read his Miranda rights and gave his statement which was signed by him and given into evidence today. We will attempt to get a copy of the statement so that we do not give out wrong information. Robert Stampfli, also asked Bliss if he would be willing to take a blood sample for Alcohol and Drug use. Bliss gave the sample. Four to five months after the accident a grand jury met and an indictment was handed down. Investigator Robert Stampfli than placed Bliss under arrest. Expert witness for the people, Lawrence W. Gusti, Jr. was called to the stand. Mr. Gusti is a New York State Police Forensic Scientist. In his toxicology evaluation of the Bliss blood sample he found no evidence of alcohol, but he did find levels of THC (active ingredient in marijuana). In his testimony he indicated that the THC levels were only possible if the person had used marijuana within the past 8 hours. Trooper Bruce McLaughlin was then called to the stand. Trooper McLaughlin is one of the State Police accident reconstruction team members. He is considered an expert witness. In a complete reconstruction of the accident it was determined that The Bliss truck, prior to leaving the pavement and hitting the tree, was traveling at a rate of speed between 81 and 83 mph. The area speed zone was posted at 45 mph with the recommended speed of 30 mph for the turn where Bliss went off the road. Evidence was given showing that no braking action occurred by Bliss prior to loosing control of his vehicle and leaving the highway pavement. Evidence collected by Trooper McLauglin, including two full size maps of the entire accident scene, as well as a set of sequential photographs used in the reconstruction showing the roadway and the path of the vehicle into the woods, were shown to the jurors. Photographs of the vehicle were also shown. When asked by the defense if Joelle had been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash could that have saved her life. Trooper McLaughlin stated that the impact the truck had on the passenger side of the vehicle was so severe that it would not have helped Joelle from getting crushed in the vehicle. The prosecution rested its case against Bliss today, tomorrow; May 16, 2003 the defense will call any witnesses they might have. |
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| Friday, May 16, 2003 - May 16,
2003 attorney John Hogan, for the defendant, Christopher Bliss presented
their case to the jury. Testifying for the defense was Mr. John Serth a civil engineer. Mr. Serth used the New York State Police accident reconstruction report that was prepared and testified to at trial by the people. Mr. Serth attempted to tell the jury that the vehicle was not traveling at a speed of more than 30 m.p.h and that if as the prosecution claimed in the report that Bliss’s vehicle was traveling at a speed in excess of 80 m.p.h. Mr. Bliss would have to be an expert race car driver. On cross examination by Assistant District Attorney James Davis, he admitted that he never spoke with any of the witnesses who observed the vehicle going off of the road, and that he did not talk to Bliss with. He also stated that he only went down to the accident site this morning before trial. Mr. Serth also attempted to tell the jury that Bliss applied his brakes before the fatal crash, although he admitted that he did not see any skid marks. Mr. Serth admitted that he only spent four hours working on the crime scene evidence. When showed the pictures of the damage to the vehicle, ADA James Davis asked if the damage is consistent to a vehicle traveling only 30 m.p.h. Mr. Serth admitted that he could not say that. At 11:50AM the defense rested. The court reconvened at 1:30.p.m. at which time Assistant District Attorney James Davis had the accident reconstruction expert testify in his rebuttal to the defense. The New York State Trooper testified that part of investigating an accident reconstruction is to interview the driver as well as any witnesses to get a full picture of what happened. He testified that in reconstructing the accident Mr. Bliss was apexing the curve which is a term used to describe approaching a curve in the opposite side of the road moving forward to the correct side in order to make it though the curve at a higher than posted rate of speed. At 2:10PM The court adjourned. Court is scheduled to resume on Monday, May 19, 2003 at which time the defense will give their summation. After that the prosecution will have an opportunity for their summation. When summations from both sides are concluded the Judge will read the charges which the jury will have to deliberate on. |
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| Monday, July 14, 2003 - Sentencing for Christopher Bliss. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Thursday, April 6, 2006 - Bliss was denied his parole by the parole board. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The DuMoulin family wishes to thank the many individuals for
taking the time to sign Joelle's petition. Your voices were heard and Bliss was denied his parole by the parole board. He will be serving two more years of his sentence until he goes before the board again. We realize that without the tremendous support that you have shown, Joelle's voice might not have been heard. However, with your support Joelle's voice was heard loud and clear, and we were able to send 281 names on our petition to the parole board. Again, thank you for your continued support, and we will certainly keep you posted on any further developments should they arise. |
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