homicide acquittals

Not guity:

negligent vehicular homicide
hit-and-run homicide

A Wisconsin man represented by Attorney Chris Van Wagner, had been charged with two counts of criminal negligent homicide and two counts of hit-and-run causing death by use of a dangerous weapon. His twin brother, was also charged with two counts of being a party to hit-and-run. THe jury deliberated for nearly three hours late Friday in Marquette County Circuit Court before returning not guilty verdicts on all counts.

Not guilty:

First Degree Intentional Homicide

Jurors deliberated for less than two hours Friday before finding Edgar Covarrubias, 20, not guilty of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and endangering safety... "We are not just happy," his criminal defense Attorney Chris Van Wagner said, "We are relieved."

not guilty:

First Degree Intentional Homicide
Ngligent Handling of Dangerous Weapon

Not since the O.J. Simpson trial has a defendant found a more believing jury. On the charge of first-degree homicide, the 12 jurors hung ( could not reach a unanimous decision). On the much less serious charge of negligent handling of a dangerous weapon, the jury found Meng not guilty even though he virtually admitted as much himself...

"The jury believed what Bob Meng told them about the shooting and that he lied to police when he was arrested," said Meng's attorney, Chris Van Wagner, moments after the verdict was announced.

Obviously so.

not guilty:

first degree intentional homicide

Attorney Chris Van Wagner was the third, maybe fourth criminal defense lawyer to take on former prosecuting attorney Wayne Stanton's case. Days before the jury returned its verdict, Stanton was out to fire yet another lawyer when Attorney Van Wagner explained to the judge that his client was drunk during one of yet another of Stanton's outbursts in court. Staton came within a hair's breadth of getting tossed into jail for contempt of court as he continually interrupted the judge during yet another request for a postponement of his attempted murder trial.

Staton was facing charges for an attempted first degree intentional homicide stemming from an accidental firing of a gun during a evening of drinking at Stanton's home.

When the verdict was read, Stanton retained his composure while Van Wagner bowed his head, suppressing an exultant grin. Staton patted Van Wagner's cheek, as if to soothe him, then peered over his glasses at departing jurors.

Stanton wanted to kiss his Attorney Chris Van Wagner, Chris declined the invitation, but the two men clasped each other around the back as Dane County Circuit Judge Patrick Fiedler read verdicts that exonerated Staton of charges of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless injury for the March 8, 1998, shooting of DeeAnn Foust. "I feel that justice was done,'' said Staton, standing in a courthouse hallway shortly after the jury returned its verdict in the case. "Chris did a hell of a job. He said a long time ago we would win, but you just never know.''

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