Washington, D-C, U-S - 8 October 1997 and File
Washington - October 8, 1997
1. Mother of victim hugs prosecutor outside courthouse
2. Photographers outside courthouse
3. SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese/English) Viviane Wagner, victim's mother
File
4. Still photo of teenager killed in accident
5. Shots of drunk driving accident
6. Georgian diplomat in handcuffs, escorted by police into car
Washington - October 8, 1997
7. Courtroom sketch of judge speaking to defendant and lawyers, zoom into defendant
8. Courtroom sketch of victim's family members in court
9. Courtroom sketch of judge, pan to defendant
10. Wide shot of defence attorney talking to media outside courthouse
11. Cutaway of reporters
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Lawrence Barcella, defence attorney
13. Courtroom sketch of defence attorney and defendant leaving the courtroom
14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Lawrence Barcella, defence attorney
15. Mother of victim hugs a friend, walks away arm in arm with son
Eng/Portu/Nat
A diplomat whose immunity was lifted so he could face trial in a traffic accident has pleaded guilty to all charges on Wednesday.
The diplomat from the republic of Georgia was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the drunk-driving death of a Maryland teenager.
The guilty plea abruptly ended the need for a trial, and the defendant will be held in prison until sentencing in December.
It was an emotional day outside the Washington D-C Superior courthouse.
Family members of the teenage girl killed in the drunk driving accident embraced prosecutors after hearing Georgian diplomat Gueorgui Makharadze's guilty plea.
The admission of guilt by the embassy's second-ranking officer, brings some closure to a case that sparked international debate about diplomatic immunity.
In a tearful exchange with reporters, the victim's mother said she has prayed for this moment for months.
SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese/English)
"My daughter will not come back. But it's been worth the fight because immunity is not impunity."
SUPER CAPTION: Viviane Wagner, victim's mother
16-year-old Jovianne Waltrick, from Kensington, Maryland was killed last January when Makharadze's car crashed into hers.
Police say Makharadze was weaving in and out of traffic at speeds up to 85 miles per hour when his car ran into a line of other cars at a busy downtown intersection.
Prosecutors have said Makharadze had a blood alcohol level of at least .05 over the legal limit at the time of the crash.
Although he was protected from prosecution because of his diplomatic status, the Georgian government waived immunity so he could face the charges.
In a district courtroom Wednesday morning, the defendant said he takes full responsibility for what happened, and pleaded guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault.
Makharadze's attorneys asked the judge that their client be set free pending sentencing on December 19th.
But Judge Harold Cushenberry refused saying Makharadze has demonstrated "a callous disregard for others" and ordered him held without bond.
Following the hearing, defence attorneys said their client is unfairly being used as an example.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"George should not become the poster child for all the pent-up aggression that people have about diplomats and about drunk driving. But I think, to a large extent, that's some of what has happened here. He has become to poster child for exactly that kind of accumulated aggression."
SUPER CAPTION: Lawrence Barcella, defence attorney
Makharadze faces up to 70 years in prison, but his attorneys say he's at peace with his decision to plead guilty.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"George has wanted to and he tried to on a number of occasions express his incredible sorrow to the family for the death of Jovianne Waltrick. That's something that he's told both of us that its a pain that he's going to live with for the rest of his life, its not something that he can forget or ever has forgotten."
SUPER CAPTION: Lawrence Barcella, defence attorney
The family of Jovianne Waltrick had just moved to the Washington area from Brazil when the girl was killed.
They've now vowed to stay in the area to wage a full-blown campaign against diplomatic immunity.
