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St. Paul, Minn.

September 23, 2008 1:57 PM

Judge denies Franco's request for new trial

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[image]

District Court Judge David Peterson has denied Olga Franco's motion for a new trial. Franco was convicted last month in the Cottonwood school bus crash, which killed four students. The judge also denied a motion for acquittal.

Franco was convicted on all 24 counts in the Feb. 19 accident. Her attorneys had argued a variety of issues denied her a fair trial -- among them prejudicial press coverage, prosecutorial misconduct and false testimony.

Judge Peterson rejected the arguments, saying either they were inaccurate or were not substantial enough to to deny Franco a fair trial.

On the acquittal motion, Franco's attorneys said the state failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Franco was driving the van which hit the school bus. She had claimed her boyfriend was driving.

The judge rejected the argument, saying there was sufficient evidence to convict. Franco will be sentenced Oct. 8.

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