An Aumsville man accused of killing a pedestrian in a DUII wreck last year has waived his right to a jury trial, opting instead to be tried by a judge later this month.
Eric Raymond Webb, 51, is scheduled to stand trial Oct. 14 in Marion County Circuit Court for a Jan. 21, 2023, collision that resulted in the death of Julia Aubrey Wade, 26, of Salem.
Webb waived his right to a jury in a Sept. 25 court filing and instead will appear before Judge Tracy Prall for a bench trial, in which a judge directly weighs evidence and determines guilt or innocence.
During a pre-trial hearing Wednesday morning, parties confirmed they are ready to move forward. The trial is expected to last five days.
Webb faces several felony charges including first-degree manslaughter, for which he would receive at least 10 years in prison if convicted.
On the night of the collision, Wade was crossing an intersection in Salem at Lancaster Dr. and Rickey St. SE when Webb allegedly struck her with his pickup.
The defendant allegedly ran a red light and fled north, and when police located his vehicle he allegedly fled at speeds in excess of 90 mph. Webb was eventually apprehended later that night on the 1900 block of Claxter Rd. NE, in Keizer.
According to police, Webb told investigators he knew he had struck a pedestrian and would likely face criminal proceedings. He allegedly said he fled the scene, rather than stopping to check on Wade, to enjoy his final moments of freedom.
Wade was initially hospitalized at OHSU with life-threatening injuries and later that March was transferred to a long-term rehabilitation facility in Portland. She eventually died from her injuries April 27, 2023.
During the trial, the defense is expected to argue that Webb suffers from debilitating mental illness and would benefit more from treatment than prison. A pre-trial release motion filed in 2023 said Webb suffers from alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, borderline personality disorder and has a history of suicide attempts.
Prosecutors are prepared to argue Webb is a threat to public safety, citing his seven prior DUII convictions and the fact that he was on probation for DUII at the time of the collision. They have filed notice of their intent to seek enhanced prison time due to such factors.
Prosecutors also filed a motion Sept. 25 to allow for more than 10 witnesses to be subpoenaed for the trial, saying this volume of testimony was “imperative to a fair, full and impartial trial.”
Apart from criminal proceedings, Wade’s family has reached a wrongful death settlement with Webb’s former employer The Pet Clinic, of Salem, where he worked as a veterinarian. According to police, Webb said he had been drinking prior to the fatal collision at a holiday party held by the clinic.
According to civil court filings, the clinic agreed to pay Wade’s family $1 million through its business insurance, which would be used primarily for medical bills and attorneys fees. There was also a $25,000 settlement through Webb’s personal car insurer.
