At first glance, William Senne is a success story. At 28, he has his own real estate business in Cambridge that employs 20 people. He hopes to open a second office in Wayland, where he was senior class co-president at Wayland High, a linebacker on the football team, and a wrestler. He recently earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Woods College of Advancing Studies at Boston College.
But his loafers tell another story. There are almost always holes in his shoes, because he walks everywhere: the mile to his Central Square office and back home every day, to meet clients, to show houses, to see friends. “Wet socks are usually the point where I order a new pair from Zappos,” says Senne.
Comments
I hope he gets the maximum. He doesn't deserve a good life.
WOW! And here I thought the whole point (these days) in sending someone to prison was to show them the error of their ways and convince them that leading a productive life was the way to go.
Silly me, we must have some holdovers from those times when it was popular to burn folks at the stake, drive them out of town on rails, etc. Which of course served no useful purpose, other than to feed their hatred.
This poster had best hope there is no such thing as Karma, or failing that, has the good fortune to never make a terrible mistake.
He lied about not drinking. If the victim had died right away, his sentence would have been much worse. There is every reason to believe that he is someone who will recklessly put others at risk again to satisfy his own needs. His insane act behind the wheel was not his first either and his prior lies are the serious red flags. The death he caused is more important than any business he created. Let a jury decide guilt and a judge determine further punishment. It's the lying, self indulgence and the permanent penalty the victim is left with that require further action.
His actions still resulted in a woman's death, though delayed. And pleading guilty at least 18 months later - July 2003 crash, 2005 plea - is not exactly "stepping up" to take responsibility. Glad he has done well, and that will factor into any sentence. If he thinks getting charged again is unfair, how unfair was 8 years in a coma?
Unlike TV shows, the legal process is very drawn out. The prosecution can diddle around a long time while they figure out what to charge, gather evidence and in this case, probably waited to see if she was going to die or not.
The real question here is: "Is justice being served?" What good will come of sending this man back to prison? Make some former state trooper feel that she "got some payback"? That is exactly what it is, payback.
Factual correction- the under 21 automatic limit is not .02. It is the same as an adult .08, but for adults, if you have a .05, there is an inference that you are not "under the influence", but since minors shouldn't be drinking, and presumably alcohol has a greater affect on minors, there is no such inference. If he blew .05 4 hours later, he must have been tanked at the time of the crash. And IF he is being honest about not drinking in Wayland, and not just protecting some friend's family from a lawsuit, it is a miracle he didn't kill someone on the way to Wayland first.
I am mystified at the Globe's editorial decision to go with a front page story about the perpetrator of this tragic event, and in the Sunday edition no less. What part of 100 MPH do you not understand? This is where the Globe's sentiments lie on this date? A lead story evoking sympathy for this individual. I am amazed. It is shameful.
What is shameful is the vindictiveness of a former classmate using her position to prevent someone from paying a price and then going on to make themselves a useful part of the community.
It's just wrong to prosecute him twice.
He's not prosecuted twice. Originally, it was injury. Now it's manslaughter.
I agree with the previous commenter, it's wrong to prosecute him twice.
Nothing like having a friend in the State Police to bring vindictive charges that serve no useful purpose.
Obviously they were eager years ago to send him to prison, then they were unhappy when they did not get 6 or 7 years. They made their choice then. Now they want a "do over" and expect to send him off for another 15 years. What for? He is not a career criminal, he was just a stupid young man.
(Normally I am for locking up criminals and throwing away the keys)
Let the judge decide, not popular opinion.
PValen, little do you seem to know about how the legal system works. No JUDGE is involved at this point, merely a vindictive prosecutor with ties to the state police. Notice that as soon as he was indicted, driving privileges were revoked (read that as being punished BEFORE being convicted of the new charges). If he goes to a jury trial, a judge will still not make a determination as to his guilt/innocence. He would be a FOOL to opt for a non jury trial, given the corruption in this states legal system. You had best hope that you never become involved with the legal system of this state, it will change your viewpoints 180 degrees.
Truly sad story, and horrific for the trooper's family. However, given the circumstances described in the article itis hard to not view this as a vindictive prosecution that serves absolutely nor purpose for society or for the individual. Espacially in the case where the victims family does not want to see another prosecution. This has unfortunately been a halmark of the institutional disfunction of the MA state police. The unfortunate truth is that a massive and prolonged failure of leadership has resulted in a force-wide attitude of a paramilitary institution that is rude, abusive, and vindictive against the very citizens they are charged to protect. Case in point, their behavior at the state house was deemed to be so abusive that they were banned from the duty by the legislature. Leting that poor institutional record and attitude of an unaccountable, armed organization influence the prosecutor's office to move forward with a vindictive prosecution is a sad and divisive outcome for everybody.
Years ago the drinking age was 18 and the legal limit was 1.0. I remeber this story when it happened and felt bad for the trooper and her family. I believed that Senne was a punk and a child of priveledge who deserved to pay for his actions. This young man was charged and convicted by the state and did his time. He is remorseful and sorry for what he did. I wonder if the victim wasn't a Trooper would this charge be pending?
Of course it wouldn't. And I can say that being in the profession. This is the MSP bringing pressure on the DA.
This is scary stuff. Goes to show you those in power can dig up or use laws anytime they want. The guy did a horrible thing and it was an accident. He pled guilty and served his time. End of story. He has to live with the facts every day of his life. State Troopers get hit by drunken drivers, sadly and get killed. It shouldn't happen but it does. All the revenge in the world won't bring her back. Start a memorial in her name and make something positive out of this brave woman's death.
The prosecution should offer a plea deal for time served add 5 years probation. save tax payer money on both ends ...trial and prison. i would also like to know more about the actual location of the cruiser at the time. This was the 2nd time this trooper had been hit. Did she put herself in harms way just to examine a dented rail? And what does being guilty of something have to do w/ a bank lending you money, considering how guilty our banks are of financial crimes. The Trooper also chose this line of work, to be in the line of fire. Plead guilty! The jury will have absolute resovle you have paid your price to society.Continue to pay your taxes and don't ever be a burden to this state again!
A plea deal for time served plus a few years probation sounds about right. There's no need for the blaming the victim speculation, if you hit a car from behind it's your fault, plain and simple.
YOur comments about Trooper Engelhart being partly responsible are truly disgusting. To insinuate that she was at fault for being pulled off the road, doing her job, at 6:00 in the morning, is disrespectful to her memory and disgusting. The fact that she had been hit before illustrates the amount of drunk driving going on on Massachusetts roads. Our courts are so lax in prosecuting them, her first "attacker" is probably reading this article and laughing. She was hit by a DRUNK DRIVER. To insinuate that she had any culpability in it is just a crime in itself.
The only useful purpose served by this "second bite of the apple" malicious prosecution is that DA Cruz gets a chit with the State Police.
I have known Billy Senne for about 2 years now. He is dedicated, intelligent , with a strong work ethic that enables him always to be prepared. Those on these posts that attack his character have obviously never met him. I wish him the best in this ordeal.
Good for the Globe for printing this obvious case of prosecutorial abuse (if not outright corruption). Senne was negligent. He didn't deny it and accepted responsibility. Since serving that sentence he's been a model citizen. Why prosecute him further? Will it "rehibilitate" him? Will it generate more money for the victim and their family? Will it improve the state in any manner? No. Then the only reason this is being prosecuted is to meet POLITICAL ends either gain a "notch" on the prosecutor's belt or by the prosecutor getting "points" with some faction in the state police that seeks more retribution. This is a patent case of prosecutorial abuse of power. The prosecutor shouldn't just be fired he should be disbarred for unethically wasting state resources in pursuit of a meaningless, merely vengeful, trial.
jjag...I totally agree with you. This seems clearly a 'deal' between the police and the prosecutor, with the citizens of MA be damned. Not to mention the ruin of another life - and for what? It seems the victim's family has no interest in pursuing this further, they seem realistic and reasonable. Our "justice" system - yeah, right!
This story just smacks of someone's vindictiveness. The question is whose?
If it's peace you find in dying
And if dying time is here just bundle up my coffin'
Cause it's cold way down there
I hear that it's cold way down there
Yeah, crazy cold way down there
And when I die, and when I'm gone
There'll be one child born
In this world to carry on, to carry on
The lyrics were performed by "Blood, Sweat and Tears" in their 1969 version of "And when I Die" by American singer Laura Nyro.
Ironically, all three are present at a Pin-Job (vehicle extrication) although the "Tears" are being hidden by the first responders.
Dead is Dead!!!
Is there a point to this reply?
I hate drunk drivers, have zero tolerance for it and wish our laws were 100% stricter. Having said that, this is a total travesty of justice. He did everything he was supposed to. He pleaded guilty, did his time, is a productive member of society.. This is so wrong.
I'm dissappointed in the reporting of the new charges in this case. The article fails to note that the defendant Senne pled guilty to the charge and to driving drunk.
Also missing is the resolution of the civil case --- Senne was driving a car insured by his father's company.
Lastly, who speaks within this article for the victim? Trooper Engelhardt suffured terribly since Senne's car plowed into her police car in July 2003, ultimately losing her life. Her family coped with years of emotional and fiancial burden and ultimately, grief.
"Since Senne was 18 at the time, and the red Volvo 940 he was driving was registered to Quissett Properties, his father's company, all three parties are liable, the suit claims.
"Quissett Properties and/or Peter Senne, negligently entrusted and/or carelessly, negligently and grossly negligently permitted William Senne to use (the car), causing Ellen Engelhardt to sustain severe personal injuries," the suit reads."
Read more: The price of justice: Trooper's family targets $6.2M in civil suit - Dedham, Massachusetts - The Dedham Transcript http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/news/x1336266482#ixzz2HD4oTN1N
Both of the items you describe as missing are, in fact, included in the article, which you'd know if you had actually finished it.
How exactly do the citizens of Massachusetts benefit from sending back to prison a person who served time and appears to demonstrating remorse and reform in an exemplary and ongoing fashion?
It seems like Senne pleaded guilty as a practical measure to avoid a tougher sentence, and now he's squirming -- seeking public sympathy with a front-page Globe confessional -- because he might still wind up with a harsher sentence. Read closer: Senne still maintains his innocence, claiming he merely fell asleep at the wheel. How is that showing remorse? And how is a rich kid starting his own realty company supposed to be read as becoming a productive member of society? Perhaps if he had come out of prison and started a new life as a nurse, or hospice worker, or treatment counselor, Bella English might have been able to write the redemption narrative she seems to be attempting. Unfortunately the only thing Senne seems remorseful about is entering his guilty plea in the first place. I have no problem with the second charge being added; this article is clearly something his lawyer advised to curry sympathy before the trial.
Apparently I read a different piece. I read he does have remorse. I didn't read anything about him being "innocent". He admits to causing the death of another person while asleep at the wheel and having a BAC of .05.
A DUI/ V.H. can happen to anyone, any time. If we are honest with ourselves, we know this is true. I wonder if the vindictive comments seen here would be a bit different if Senne was a member of their family, or themselves. People love rough justice, until it hits home.
A DUI can't happen if you haven't been drinking and driving. VH can, and situations vary, but one does not equal the other. Yes, he served time but it wasn't much of a punishment for DUI since Mass. laws are exceptionally lax on drunk drivers. Shop for a forgiving judge - and there are plenty of them - and you get off very easy. I'm not for rough justice either but DUI is a voluntary action and if you drink anything and drive and get into an accident, then you should pay the price, Getting nailed for speeding four ties (story said three before this accident) and overlaying the DUI then don't go light on the sentence. Regardless if the victim is a state trouper or not.
Will the prosecutor be able to convince the jury that the cause of death is attributable to the accident years earlier?
It doesn't seem to serve any public good to work to destroy this man. I'm as dismayed by the comments I've read as I am by the decision to try this guy for manslaughter. The family is not seeking any further punishment, and no criminal will be deterred by any further jail time. Alternatively we as a society could benefit greatly by having a hardworking citizen continue to create jobs in our economy rather than sitting idly behind bars living off the taxpayer dole. I would certainly prefer the former option.
I believe the other one Cruz brought to court after the victim died, years after the assault, was the son of an officer. Is this a case of law enforcement falling harder on someone in the system? How does society benefit from putting this guy on trial and in prison for something he did his time for already?
You bring up an unfortunate but viable reason the DA may be prosecuting this case further. If this is some kind of extra "payback" related to victimizing law enforcement then it needs to be nipped in the bud. We cannot have two overt systems of justice.
If this story is completely true and Mr. Senne has reformed and turned his life around, and not some PR strategy just to make him look good, there is no need for further punishment. Trooper Ellen Engelhardt's daughter and significant other, also a MSP Trooper, see no need to punish him further, so why should anyone else. If they can forgive, why can't we? He took responsibility for his actions, he served time and, unlike so many others, he learned from his mistake and turned his life around. He was a stupid, privileged, careless 18 year old whose actions were deplorable. It appears he has learned from his terrible mistake and is now a productive member of society. And that means, unlike so many others, pays taxes, employs people and contributes back to his community. To send him back to jail would be an act of vengeance, not justice. In my many years in law enforcement I have seen much injustice. In this case justice has been done. This young man paid a big price price for this actions and I am sure what he did will live with within him for the rest of his life.
He pleads guilty, claims responsibility, has NOT gotten into trouble, started a business that employs 20 people, the family does not seem to want this, but we're prosecuting him? He was 18 and has seemed to have changed - let him alone. As an adult he would not even had been classified as drunk. He was tired and he is not even looking get his license back - let the guy alone!
There was far too much sympathy applied to this follow-up piece on the man who killed Trooper Ellen Engelhardt, and recent vehicular homicide charges. Decisions made, and actions taken are what life is made of, and are the cause of the taking Ms Engelhardt's life. Her killer claims that at one event during that fateful day that he "didn’t have a drop to drink". Truth or fiction, he was responsible for his unsafe driving that day. Our society would be better off if drunk driving were condemned by us all. No excuses, no free pass. For those of us who have had loved ones serving in law enforcement, we accept that they may suffer the ultimate sacrifice. But when the cause of such a loss is thru irresponsibility and selfishness, that forgiveness is beyond some of us. To our legislators on Beacon Hill, I appeal to you: increase the penalties for impaired driving, and do so before you lose one of your own to this premature, preventable death.
I get that Mr. Senne has remorse, and has tried to lead a good life. However, look at the timeline here. If he stopped drinking at 9:00 p.m. on the night before, and had the accident at 6:00 a.m., and took the breathelyzer four hours later, which was 11 hours after his supposed last drink, and blew a .05, he would have been absolutely unable to drive from intoxication at 9:00 p.m. Yet he did. It appears that he is still not really accepting responsibility. How could he possibly assert tht he did not drink at the party when he had to have arrived there falling down drunk. After the extreme nature of these actions, AND the fact that he struck and killed a trooper in the line of duty, which IS significant, even though those that do not respect the job that police do appear to be calling it revenge, it does require prosecution for the second charge. It is sad. It may ruin his life. He clearlyis very remorseful. All of that does not change the facts. We would all want justice for our families. Especially if their deaths were in the line of duty, and a result of the most deplorable choices one can make. It is sad, and it is necessary.
Is this the best use of state resources? This will be a high profile trial. How many hours will be spent among the judge, jury, baliffs, prosecutors, lawyers, families, etc., etc. Thousands upon thousands upon thousands. The guy pled guilty. He served time. He was 18 at the time of the offense & seems to have learned his lesson. Whay good will come out of this? Nothing that I can see. DA Cruz seems to be on an ego trip, seeing as how the family of the victim isn't asking for this prosecution. He is just wasting valuable taxpayer resources.