Suspected killer flips off the court

[Melena]

http://www.mercurynews.com/topstorie...nclick_check=1

A Novato man accused of killing a 9-year-old girl with his motorcycle last week made his first court appearance in the case Tuesday morning- and began by raising his middle finger toward a bank of cameras and lawyers across the courtroom.

Edward John Schaefer, rolled into court in a wheelchair, made the gesture for several seconds while appearing in court to face charges for the death of Melody Osheroff, a Novato girl allegedly run down by Schaefer in a crosswalk.

"I would ask the public to withhold judgment and allow the process to work," said Michael Schroettner, one of Schaefer's public defenders.

Schaefer intends to plead not guilty at his next hearing on June 19, Schroettner said.

Schaefer, 43, is being held in lieu of $1.5 million bail on charges of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, mayhem and causing injury while driving under the influence.

Schaefer, who has six prior DUI-related convictions, could face 17 years to life in state prison if convicted in the death of Melody Osheroff and the maiming of her father, Aaron.

The Osheroffs were walking across San Marin Drive near their home Wednesday night when a motorcyclist plowed into them in a crosswalk at San Carlos Way, authorities said.

Melody, a fourth-grade student at San Ramon Elementary School, died the next morning at Children's Hospital in Oakland.

Aaron Osheroff, 41, was airlifted with critical injuries to Santa

Rosa Memorial Hospital, where one of his legs was amputated. He remained in serious condition Monday in the hospital's intensive care unit, a nursing supervisor said.

The motorcyclist crashed farther up the street, and police identified him as Schaefer. He was hospitalized with moderate injuries until being transferred to jail Monday.

Authorities said Schaefer's blood-alcohol content was .16 percent at the time of the collision, more than twice the legal limit for driving.

Schaefer appeared to have no supporters in the courtroom during the brief hearing Tuesday before Judge Terrence Boren.

Schroettner declined to comment on the allegations, other than to say Schaefer planned to plead not guilty.

"This is obviously a tragic situation but we just received the police reports," Schroettner said.

[_chuchu]

in before Darwinism.

Accidents like this happen regularly, still sucks that it had to happen to the young girl

[Ziegus]

Awful story. Not only does his kid die but he's forced to live the rest of his life without one of his legs.

A Novato man accused of killing a 9-year-old girl with his motorcycle last week made his first court appearance in the case Tuesday morning- and began by raising his middle finger toward a bank of cameras and lawyers across the courtroom.

Edward John Schaefer, rolled into court in a wheelchair, made the gesture for several seconds while appearing in court to face charges for the death of Melody Osheroff, a Novato girl allegedly run down by Schaefer in a crosswalk.

Sounds like a fucking champ.

[archibaldcrane]

6-time DUI offender? Jesus christ - did he have a license when he committed this accident?

[Ghost_Wheel22]

Pretty sure by the time you rack up that many DUIs your license is gone for life. Pretty sure whatever mercy his defense could have squeezed from the jury is gone now too. Hope he enjoys big dicks and small rooms.

[Warudo Ecksu]

Hope he enjoys big dicks and small rooms.

agreed. I'd say I hope he gets a really long sentence but knowing our justice system, he'll get like a year of prison and then probation

[Firedemon]

Someone should run into him on a motorcycle and cut one of his legs off and keep him in jail.

[Roranora]

From the article, it's not really specified how many previous DUIs he's had; it only said he's been convicted of 6 other DUI-related charges. There appears to be at least 4 in this singular intoxicated driving incident.. who knows, maybe all 6 were from just one prior DUI? I'd image there's at least 2-3 other DUIs, but likely not 6 legit, individual DUIs. If so, I doubt it would've been phrased as it was. Anyway, still fucked up.

[guartz]

We should send him to jail, then nuke it.

[Norelco]

Where's jcmagarrell?

WTF is a Mayhem charge? We have too many overlapping laws.