
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 13, 1992                   TAG: 9203130098
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BOSTON                                LENGTH: Short

EX-CELTIC SMITH CONVICTED

Former Boston Celtics guard Charles Smith was convicted Thursday of vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a crime in the hit-and-run deaths of two Boston University students, and he was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison. Smith was acquitted of the more serious charge of manslaughter.

Smith, 24, who was a standout player at Georgetown University, had been charged in the deaths of Michelle Dartley, 20, of Ridgewood, N.J., and An Trinh, 21, of Placentia, Calif. They were struck on a busy thoroughfare near the university the night of March 22, 1991.

Cab driver Tochukwu Achebe testified that he followed the van through Cambridge and Boston, calling in its whereabouts on his radio.

Police arrested Smith about a mile from the accident scene. He was charged with two counts each of manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident. He had remained free on $100,000 bond. Smith told the court he was sorry for what had happened and had prayed for the families of the victims. Smith's lawyer, Dennis Kelly, said he would appeal.

Keywords:
FATALITY BASKETBALL

by CNB