By Daily Press staff
SMPD HDQTRS. — The elderly man charged with 10 counts of felony vehicular manslaughter related to the Farmers’ Market crash turned himself into police on Tuesday.
Russell Weller, 87, was brought to the Santa Monica Police Department at noon by his attorneys, where he was booked for vehicular manslaughter and released.
Weller, of Santa Monica, pleaded not guilty to the charges last Tuesday. He will remain free without bail until he is tried. He faces a minimum sentence of probation and as much as 18 years in jail, if convicted.
Prosecutors, who were denied by LA Superior Court Judge Paula Adele Mabrey to hold Weller in lieu of $50,000 bond, said they have more than 3,000 pages of evidence and 800 witnesses in their case against Weller. A preliminary trial is scheduled for Feb. 9.
Weller sped through the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market on July 16, reportedly mistaking the accelerator for the brake. He killed 10 people and injured 63 others.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 14, 2004. Read the original PDF.