The husband of a woman struck and killed when a man drove his car on the crowded Venice Beach boardwalk, hitting 17 people, testified Monday about the final moments of her life.
Christian Casadei took the stand Monday morning in the trial of Nathan Campbell, who has pleaded not guilty to murder, 17 counts of assault with a deadly weapon and 10 counts of leaving the scene of an accident.
Casadei and his wife, Alice Gruppioni, were on their honeymoon Aug. 3, 2013 after two weeks of marriage when a driver rammed through barricades at the popular tourist spot. Casadei testified that he grabbed his wife when he saw the car continue in their direction and told her to follow him to a nearby hotel entrance.
But both newlyweds were struck by the Dodge Avenger that prosecutors said was driven by Campbell, allegedly bent on revenge against a drug dealer who ripped him off. Casadei, from Bologna, Italy, recalled getting up off the ground and searching for his wife.
Gruppioni, 32, could be seen on a surveillance video standing on the walkway as the car suddenly appeared and struck her before disappearing into a sea of people. She was carried 300 feet on the hood of the car and then rolled off, hitting the pavement.
She died from head injuries.
Deputy District Attorney Victor Avila said Thursday in opening statements in Los Angeles Superior Court that Campbell's boardwalk rampage was sparked by the suspect's anger over a $35 methamphetamine deal.
Campbell, 39, of Colorado, does not deny hitting the pedestrians at one of Los Angeles' top tourist destinations. But his lawyer disputed the drug deal motive and said his client weaved to avoid people. He asked jurors not to convict Campbell of murder.
Defense lawyer James Cooper III said Campbell took out tents, an ATM, a row of bikes and a mannequin, but swerved to dodge people, which is how Gruppioni fell off the car's hood. Cooper did not explain during opening statements why Campbell drove on the walkway that is closed to cars.
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Millions of visitors from around the world are drawn to the funky mix of jugglers, musicians and dancers hustling for tips while merchants peddle handcrafted art, tapestries and knickknacks. With a scent of pot — sold legally in nearby medical dispensaries — often permeating the surroundings, the vibe hearkens back to its hippy past.
The 2013 boardwalk rampage left a path of casualties including merchants and people from England, France and China. The driver then turned on a side street and vanished.
Campbell, a transient with a history of petty crimes, surrendered to police in neighboring Santa Monica a couple of hours later.
Casadei was too distraught to speak with reporters after his testimony, but her family issued a statement through their attorney.
"Today was a very difficult day for Christian and the Gruppioni family. Reliving the senseless tragedy of Aug. 3, 2013 has been a very difficult experience causing great sorrow and heartache. At the same time, we want to extend our wholehearted gratitude to the District Attorney's Office for its efforts in prosecuting Mr. Campbell, with the family hopeful and confident that justice will prevail. Our family lost a beautiful wife, daughter, family member and friend who brought so much love to all. We will forever mourn her loss."
