MELVILLE, N.Y. _ The Holbrook man accused of driving drunk into a crowd of Scouts, killing one of them, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with aggravated vehicular homicide, assault and other charges in Central Islip, as dozens of Boy Scouts and family members looked on.
Assistant District Attorney Jacob DeLauter said Thomas Murphy, 59, was drinking vodka at the Swan Lake Golf Club in Manorville before he refused an offer by a colleague to drive him. After his Mercedes-Benz plowed into the group, walking facing traffic on the shoulder of David Terry Road, Murphy was so unsteady on his feet that he could not safely perform a field sobriety test, DeLauter said. Andrew McMorris, 12, died a day after the Sept. 30 crash.
Murphy's blood was drawn hours later and had a blood-alcohol content of 0.13 percent, DeLauter said. Forensic toxicologists estimate it was 0.19 percent at the time of the crash.
In a statement read afterward by his attorney, Stephen McCarthy Jr. of Manhattan, Murphy again apologized for his actions.
"A beautiful, wonderful child lost his life," the statement said. "I can never make that right. ... I know that nothing can fill the void left by the death of your beloved son. I am so very sorry."
Murphy said it is his "ultimate intention to accept responsibility for my role in this tragic accident" and vowed that the McMorris family's healing would "not be delayed by my court proceeding."
Family members and Scouts did not comment. District Attorney Timothy Sini said afterward, "Nothing will bring Andrew back, but we will seek justice." He asked everyone to keep the McMorris family and the Scouts in their thoughts.
State Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho allowed Murphy to remain free on bail of $500,000 bond.
