An Arlington man has been found not guilty of motor-vehicular homicide in the death of a 77-year-old North Cambridge woman hit while crossing Mass. Ave. in December 2013.
A jury returned the verdict in the case of Paul S. Giragosian, 68, following a two-day trial, a spokeswoman for the Middlesex District Attorneys Office said Oct. 20.
Last Dec. 19, Judge Roanne Sragow entered a not-guilty plea at Giragosian’s arraignment in the death of Elba Ortiz-Delgado, known as “Lucy,” one year to the day after the collision at Mass. Ave. and Orvis Road in East Arlington. About 10 p.m. Dec. 19, 2013, Ortiz-Delgado, was pushing a cart in a crosswalk near Sabatino’s and was struck by a car driven by Giragosian. The victim was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where she later died.
Appearing in Cambridge District Court in Medford for the arraignment, Giragosian was ordered to turn in his driver’s license after it had been restored in error.
At the time, Giragosian was cited for operating without a license and failure to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk, but the case remained under investigation for months.
The investigation included a State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section report, which came back in October 2014. The report, combined with the Arlington Police Department investigation, resulted in the allegations against Giragosian.
Arlington police investigators worked with the office of Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan to investigate and ultimately charge Giragosian with motor-vehicular homicide.
The case was continued through a number of court hearings until a trial was held Friday, Oct. 16, before Judge Michele Hogan and a a jury of five women and one man.
Among those testifying at the trial was Juliet Blackett, a friend of Ortiz-Delgado who lives in North Cambridge. She declined to comment following the verdict.
Because the victim has no family, Blackett arranged for cremation in 2014. She said earlier that her attempts to locate her family here and in Puerto Rico were not fruitful. The state Dept. of Transitional Assistance covered most of the cost of the cremation, and she covered the rest.
Contacted Oct. 29, Giragosian declined to comment about the verdict or whether he wrote an account of the case published at Truepersons.com.
Radu Brestyan was the assistant district attorney assigned to this case for the prosecution. Representing Giragosian was Isaac Peres assisted by Stephen Rogan. Lonni Scott was the victim’s advocate.
YourArlington has been unable to reach attorneys for either side following the verdict. Attempts to learn more led to a delay in reporting this story.
Background
Dec. 21, 2013: Further charge possible in death at long Mass. Ave. crosswalk
Jan. 8, 2014: Lucy: ‘She was no longer with us in this world’
Feb. 25, 2014: Lucy: A friend seeks a proper end
July 9, 2014: No-contest plea to lesser charge in Mass. Ave. death
Nov. 4, 2014: Arlington man faces motor-vehicular homicide charges in ’13 Mass. Ave. case
This story was published Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015.
