Granite State Times

Just a few days shy of beginning, the trial for a 2019 vehicle crash in Randolph, New Hampshire -- involving Massachusetts resident Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, which resulted in the death of seven motorcyclists -- is now experiencing a delay.

“Volodymyr Zhukovskyy’s bail appeal rejected in crash that killed seven New Hampshire motorcyclists,” Carl DeLuca, Esq, tweeted on Sept. 23.

According to the Boston Herald, the truck driver is accused of a string of charges in connection with the deaths, including “multiple counts of negligent homicide, manslaughter, driving under the influence and reckless conduct.” Zhukovskyy will now stand before Coos County Superior Court Judge Peter Bornstein next year, as per a request made by the defense. Though an official date has yet to be determined, the continuance order mentions March 2022.

The delay is mainly attributed to concerns regarding the connections between the expert tasked with the investigation’s crash reconstruction project, Stephen Benanti, and the Massachusetts State Police, revealed through his job history. The accident reconstruction specialist was questioned by authorities regarding the matter in late September, the Boston Herald reports.

The defense deemed the work contributed by the expert to be unreliable and said it could not be used “without substantially compromising” Zhukovskyy’s rights “to present all proofs favorable to his defense.”

Before the postponement was declared, lawyers were due to begin selecting jurors for the trial, which was previously scheduled to begin on Nov. 29. The crash occurred on June 21, 2019. 

The victims of the accident were members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Zhukovskyy has pleaded not guilty.