McNamara Found Guilty in Traffic Death Trial

Friday evening, June 19, the man accused of driving a van that hit and killed 9-year-old Robert Leonardi last summer was convicted charges including negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an accident. After a week-long trial, a District Court jury in Hamilton made the verdict Friday. Joseph McNamara, age 59, remains in jail awaiting sentencing, which should be within two months.

The July, 7, 2019, incident was on Golf Course Road southeast of Hamilton when Leonardi was crossing the lanes on a scooter. Officers estimated McNamara's vehicle was traveling at least 55 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone when it hit the boy. The jury was empaneled Monday of last week, they viewed the accident scene Thursday and closing arguments were Friday morning. Friday evening, jurors came back with with the guilty verdicts.