Trial in death of Angels' Nick Adenhart gets underway

The trial of a man accused of killing Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two friends in a drunk-driving crash is set to get underway Tuesday with opening statements.

Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, is charged with three counts of murder and individual counts of driving under the influence, hit-and-run and driving with a suspended license.

According to prosecutors, Gallo had a blood-alcohol level of at least 0.19% -- more than twice the legal limit -- when he ran a red light at a Fullerton intersection in the early morning of April 9, 2009, and crashed into a car driven by Courtney Stewart.

Stewart, 20, Adenhart, 22, and Henry Pearson, 25, were killed. A fourth passenger, Jon Wilhite, 25, was critically injured and has made a slow recovery.

The crash occurred just hours after Adenhart made his first start of the season for the Angels, throwing six scoreless innings.

Although Adenhart was a little-known rookie pitcher in life, the story of his death resonated strongly with both baseball fans and those who never followed the game.

A massive shrine blossomed for months outside Angel Stadium, the team created a pitching award in his honor and artists paid tribute with their work.

Because of the publicity surrounding Adenhart's death, Gallo’s attorney petitioned several times to get the trial moved out of Orange County. She argued that it was impossible for her client to get a fair trial there.

Superior Court Judge Richard Toohey repeatedly rejected the arguments, saying he was confident a fair jury would be found.

-- Paloma Esquivel in Santa Ana

Upper photo: Andrew Thomas Gallo. Credit: Al Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Lower photo: Nick Adenhart. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Comments

[bdflatlander]

I really hope the evidence is there to convict this idiot so that he is locked up for a long time and can't inflict this type of terrible damage and pain on anyone else. From the news accounts he is nothing but a coward and a punk.

[All Hallows Eve]

For me, the most disturbing part of this story (bedsides murder injury) is the fact that Gallo was driving on a suspended license for a prior DUI.

What did he NOT get from the first arrest???

[TheBigPicture]

It's about time his photo was published...I can't wait for his conviction...Hopefully, at least 10 years...20 would be incredibly awesome....

[clay]

"What did he NOT get from the first arrest??? "

Enough jail time and/or fines...