No prison for man who ran over wife, killing her
MINNEAPOLIS -- A Minnesota man has been sentenced to a four-year stayed prison sentence after being found guilty of criminal vehicular homicide in the death of his wife, reports CBS Minnesota.
On July 24, 2014, David Meder and his wife were in their car when they stopped at the foot of their driveway to get mail. Meder said he didn't realize that his wife, 57-year-old Diane Rawlings Meder, had gotten out of the car. He made a left-hand turn into the driveway and heard her yell that he was running her over.
When paramedics arrived, Diane Rawlings Meder told them that it was an accident. She was airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center, where she later died.
Officers noted a strong smell of alcohol from David Meder, and tests indicated he had been operating the car with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.155, about twice the legal limit of 0.08.
Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Sarah Hilleren said alcohol was the determining factor in the incident.
"He has, from the beginning, blamed his wife. He was drunk and he killed his wife. A sober person would have acted differently," Hilleren said.
But in court David Meder refuted that claim.
"The idea that somehow I don't accept responsibility for my wife's death is preposterous. It's a room I live in every day. It eats at my spirit," he said.
David Meder was convicted in July. His stayed prison sentence means he must abide by the terms of probation for 10 years, or risk up to four years of incarceration. The terms include submitting DNA samples, abstaining from alcohol or controlled substances, obtaining and keeping a job or education, and not possessing a firearm.