Angelina Fuller (Picture equipped by the Walton County District Lawyer’s Workplace)
COVINGTON, Ga. – A person with a historical past of driving whereas intoxicated and a tool constructed into his automobile meant to stop him from doing it once more has been convicted of killing a girl on the street.
Man sentenced in Covington Memorial Day 2023 lethal DUI crash
What we all know:
Stephen James Taffe pleaded responsible to first-degree vehicular murder, DUI, driving whereas license suspended, following too shut and open container final month for an incident that came about Memorial Day 2023 weekend.
A witness known as 911, reporting a person driving “extraordinarily erratically.”
Taffe hit Angelina Fuller’s automobile from behind, killing her. She was 34-years-old and left behind one daughter, based on her obituary.
When Taffe was examined, his blood alcohol degree was 0.284, 3 times the authorized restrict.
Through the investigation that ensued, it was additionally found that Taffe’s automobile had an ignition interlock machine put in inside. The machine requires drivers to present a breath pattern to check for alcohol earlier than the automobile begins. It was put in his automobile after a previous DUI conviction.
What could cause a violation on an interlock machine?
Dig deeper:
Investigators decided Taffe’s interlock machine had been tampered with, permitting him to drive whereas beneath the affect.
Justice for Angelina Fuller
What’s subsequent:
Taffe was sentenced to 17 years in confinement, the utmost sentence for his offenses.
“When somebody drives beneath the affect, it turns their automobile right into a weapon that may kill. Any lack of life on account of a DUI driver is unacceptable and tragic, however this case is particularly egregious,” stated District Lawyer Randy McGinley. “Nothing will undo the loss Ms. Fuller’s household suffered. However I hope this sentence can ship a message to each driver on the market that driving beneath the affect is unacceptable.”
