Super Bowl fan death trial starts today
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
A notorious chapter in Boston sports lore is nearing a close as the man accused of killing a state trooper’s son during a Super Bowl riot goes on trial this morning.
Instant replay is expected to figure prominently in the fate of Stanley Filoma, 26, of Mattapan, who faces charges including manslaughter and motor vehicle homicide.
Amateur videos shot outside Northeastern University on Feb. 1, 2004, meant to memorialize a celebration of the New England Patriots’ second world championship inadvertently recorded the grisly hit-and-run death of James Grabowski, 21, of West Newbury, a former champion high school wrestler for St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers.
Filoma, who prosecutors allege was drunk based on his blood alcohol level of .09, has maintained he panicked after steering his Toyota Land Cruiser down Symphony Road, where, he claims, he was overwhelmed by a throng of rowdy football fans.
In addition to Grabowski’s death, NU student Jason Stackiewicz slipped into a coma he was not expected to survive after being plowed down by Filoma’s SUV.
Stackiewicz miraculously recovered, but the tragedy led to career-altering demotions of top brass within the Boston Police Department, which confessed that it failed to adequately plan for frenzied fans.
Neither Filoma’s attorney, Bruce Namenson, nor Grabowski’s parents could be reached for comment yesterday. Filoma’s mother declined to comment on his behalf.
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