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# Weller manages to stay quiet after tragic market crash
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/weller-manages-to-stay-quiet-after-tragic-market-crash/
- Published: 2004-01-08T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:28:32.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Downtown, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff — John Wood*

Despite demands that he apologize publicly, George Russell Weller, 87, has stayed quiet since July, when he sped through a crowded Farmers’ Market in downtown Santa Monica, leaving 10 people dead and 63 hurt.

At his arraignment Tuesday, Weller was escorted into and out of the LAX Courthouse by Los Angeles County Sheriff deputies and he did not attend a press conference afterward.

But lawyers for Weller, who pleaded not guilty and was ordered free without bond until his case is heard, did speak publicly. During a conference held behind the courthouse, they said they were disappointed with the charges filed by the LA District Attorney’s Office. They added that the trial will be expensive for taxpayers, while emotionally traumatic for all involved.

> “We are disappointed with the filing of criminal charges that will result in the needless expenditure of court time and taxpayer funds, and the unnecessary trauma the trial will cause the families of the deceased, those injured on July 16, and the Weller family. “We are acutely aware that the events of July 16 resulted in the tragic deaths of 10 people and injuries to 63 others. The pain, suffering and heartache of the families and survivors must be unbearable at times. But no amount of pain, no amount of suffering and no amount of heartache can transform a terrible accident into a crime.”

> “We are acutely aware that the events of July 16 resulted in the tragic deaths of 10 people and injuries to 63 others.” — — DEFENSE STATEMENT

Here is the full text of their statement. “We again want to express, on behalf of Mr. Weller and the entire Weller family, our sincere sorrow and apology to all the victims and their families of the tragic accident at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market on July 16, 2003,” said Bianco, with co-counsel Mark Overland standing beside him at the podium. “Those who know Mr. Weller and the exemplary life he has led for 87 years understand that he pays every minute of every day for the devastation resulting from those horrific nine seconds.

“But the tragedy was a horrible accident and these criminal charges are unwarranted. We have conducted our own extensive investigation of the events of July 16th. Two former Los Angeles County Sheriff investigators with more than 50 years of experience have interviewed more than 100 witnesses. Several ‘human factors’experts have reviewed the data. And medical experts have conducted an exacting examination of Mr. Weller.

“Their conclusion, consistent with the finding by the California Highway Patrol Accident Investigation Team, is that the terrible events of July 16th were an accident, most likely caused by pedal misapplication — when a driver mistakenly presses the accelerator pedal believing it was the brake pedal.

“There were absolutely no warning signs that Mr. Weller would lose control of his car before he drove that day. After 73 years of near impeccable driving, the accident was simply unforeseeable.

Asked if Weller intends to personally apologize to the victims and their families, Bianco said, “There are no plans for him to address the public right now.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 8, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/010804.pdf?ref=smdp.com)