It was a mystifying pedestrian death – one that initially confused police investigators, triggered a seven-month grand jury probe, and left little decisive evidence behind.
In the end, that evidence was not enough to convict lawyer Richard Patton of vehicular homicide in the death of his girlfriend in a Newtown Township parking lot.
A Bucks County jury yesterday acquitted Patton, 52, of the most serious charges in the April 26, 2007, death of Heather Demou. Demou, 34, died of head injuries when she fell from the side of Patton's moving pickup truck after the couple had argued outside La Stalla, a restaurant in Newtown. Both were drunk at the time.
Patton maintained that he never knew Demou had attached herself to his truck. An accident reconstructionist had testified that because of poor lighting, Demou's dark clothing, and a hanging garment that blocked Patton's view of the passenger side of his vehicle, it was virtually impossible for him to have seen Demou there.
After three hours of deliberations, a jury of 11 men and one woman found Patton not guilty of vehicular homicide, vehicular homicide while driving under the influence, and involuntary manslaughter. The jury did convict him on lesser charges of recklessly endangering another person and driving under the influence.
Patton and his lawyer, Brian McMonagle, left the courtroom through a private exit. A call to McMonagle's office for comment was not immediately returned.
Deputy Attorney General Patrick Blessington, who prosecuted the case, declined to comment.
Demou's brother, Mike Butler, who has acted as a family spokesman, did not respond to reporters' questions as he left the courthouse. He did not return a phone call seeking comment.
After the verdict, Demou's family posted two photos of her on the side of a white pickup truck parked directly across from the main courthouse exit.
One was labeled: "Heather Demou." The other: "Forever in our hearts."
Judge David W. Heckler said he expected to sentence Patton this month. The maximum sentence he could face on either charge would be two years.
The former prosecutor is required to report his conviction to a state disciplinary board, said lawyer Samuel Stretton of West Chester, an expert on legal ethics and disciplinary matters. But it is unlikely that Patton would be disbarred or suspended because of misdemeanor convictions.
"No question, he will face a full hearing," Stretton said. "Most likely with these convictions, he will receive a reprimand or censure."