Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 21, 1993 TAG: 9309210154
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Harold Elmer Gould, 36, of Roanoke, was charged with murder and malicious wounding in August after his pickup truck plowed into a group of people in front of a Marshall Avenue home, where he had been in an argument minutes earlier.
Rebecca Sheppard, 25, died after her leg was nearly severed when she was pinned between the pickup and another car. Her brother-in-law, Eddie Sheppard, also was hit by the truck and suffered a broken arm.
In most criminal cases involving traffic fatalities, drivers are charged with manslaughter for acting with gross recklessness. But prosecutors charged Gould with premeditated murder because they believe he intended to use his pickup truck as a weapon.
Gould's case now goes to a grand jury that meets in October, according to Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom.
Rebecca Sheppard was killed Aug 6. after Gould and her husband, Tim Sheppard, argued at a gathering on the 600 block of Marshall Avenue. Witnesses who testified Monday were unable to give details of the dispute.
According to witnesses, Gould jumped into his pickup truck and sped up Marshall Avenue - only to turn around and head back toward the gathering of people.
Witnesses said the truck veered off the street and ran over a sidewalk before plowing into the yard and striking Rebecca Sheppard. She died later that night at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Police said the driver fled the scene, and Gould's abandoned truck was found in Northwest Roanoke.
Gould later told authorities the killing was an accident, according to witnesses called by the defense.
Keywords:
ROMUR
by CNB