POSTED: 10:45 am EST December 14, 2004
NEWPORT, N.H. -- A jury acquitted a former police officer of negligent
homicide and felonious use of a firearm in a hunting death.
Steven Laro, 49, had said he thought he was shooting at a wild boar when
he killed Robert Proulx, 58, last January.
His trial was in Sullivan County Superior Court. A judge had tossed out
one charge against Laro before the jury deliberated. That was reckless
conduct with a deadly weapon.
Laro is still facing a lawsuit. Relatives of Robert Proulx are suing him
for $2 million in Merrimack District Court.
"I'm very happy for Mr. Laro," said his attorney, Paul Maggiotto. "He
thanks the jurors and the court, and his heart goes out to Proulx's wife,
Susan."
Prosecutor Marc Hathaway said he was disappointed but respectful of the
verdict.
"I have no theories as to why it went the way it did and no intention of
second-guessing the court's rulings," he said.
