Defense expert for Minn. man seeking new trial in fatal Toyota crash disputes trial testimony

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By AMY FORLITI

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The Toyota Camry involved in a 2006 crash that killed three people had antilock brakes that would not have left skid marks at the crash scene, according to a defense witness who testified Tuesday at a hearing to determine whether the driver will receive a new trial.

Koua Fong Lee, 32, of St. Paul, is serving an eight-year prison sentence on multiple counts, including two criminal vehicular homicide convictions. He has insisted he tried to stop his car and requested a new trial after Toyota recalled millions of vehicles because of problems with sudden unintended acceleration.

Lee's attorneys say his 1996 Camry - while it wasn't part of the recall - may have experienced the same problem.

Tuesday's testimony by forensic engineer Sam Sero contradicted testimony presented during Lee's 2007 trial, when a witness for the prosecution told the jury Lee's 1996 Camry did not have antilock brakes. Prosecutors said at the time that the absence of skid marks proved Lee was not braking.



Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TOYOTA_FATAL_CRASH?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Kolesar]

1. I don't skid when I use my car's brake pedal

& My car does not have antilock brakes.

If the brake lamps' filaments were broken, it would indicate that the brake lights were on:

"Sero also looked at a picture of the left rear brake light of Lee's car and concluded the brake light was on when Lee's car hit the Solera, supporting Lee's testimony that he tried to brake. "

[Omaha Steve]

2. "software issue of the engine control unit." scan tool showed no trouble code MAGIC BULLET

Software and no event showing on the event recorder. Magic bullet!

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/RunawayToyotas/runaway-toyotas-toyota-documents-reveal-company-recreate-sudden/story?id=11312612

According to the lawsuit another document, allegedly a Toyota dealership report, states that a Toyota dealer verified two separate SUA incidents with a 2005 Toyota Sequoia, and identified the probable cause as a "software issue of the engine control unit." In another case, the lawsuit claims a 2003 field technical report stated that a Toyota technician verified, in the words of the complaint, a "surge event . . . even where the scan tool showed no trouble code."