Amy Senser Makes 1st Court Appearance
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The wife of former Minnesota Viking Joe Senser has made her first court appearance in a fatal hit-and-run crash in Minneapolis.
Amy Senser spent only about a minute in court on Friday. The day before, the Hennepin County attorney charged her with criminal vehicular homicide.
Amy Senser walked into court with attorney Eric Nelson and her husband. A number of Senser family supporters sat in court along with the family of Anousone Phanthavong, who was killed last month.
The judge asked Amy Senser if she read the charges against her, and she replied "yes." Attorney Nelson then set a pretrial hearing date for Oct. 18 at 10 a.m.
The Sensers then walked out of the courtroom and spent a few minutes hugging supporters in the hallway.
As the Sensers' walked toward their car they did not comment, but their Nelson was asked how they will proceed. He replied, "I think we'll proceed like every other case."
The criminal complaint says on Aug. 23, Amy Senser struck and killed 38-year-old Phanthavong. The report says Phanthavong was fueling up his car on an interstate 94 off-ramp.
On Sept. 2, Amy Senser said in a statement she was "the driver the vehicle in the accident."
"I couldn't even look at her in the eye," said Vilayphone Phanthavong, the victim's sister. "I guess I'm just kind of upset."
A number of Phanthavong's family members sat in court on Friday and said they plan to attend every court appearance. Vilayphone Phanthavong says she's finally satisfied seeing some momentum in the case, but it makes her emotional seeing Amy Senser in court.
"It's difficult but we're going to try and be at every trial," she said.
Phanthavong family attorney Jim Ballentine was questioned about the upcoming depositions of Joe and Amy Senser on Oct. 11. He said they hope to find out more facts on what was going on that night.
"Where Mrs. Senser had been, whether alcohol or drugs were involved, whether anyone else was in the car -- those are just some of the things we're going to be looking for," said Ballentine.
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Edgar Linares Reports
