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Oct 12, 2009 6:46 pm US/Central
Man Sentenced In Drunken Hit-And-Run Death
(WCCO)
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In court Monday, Christopher Beussman again told the Solberg family he was sorry.
Hennepin County
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Christopher Beussman admitted to police that he pulled over to switch spots with 23-year-old Ashley Marie Whitney, who would later register 0.195 blood alcohol content on a breathalyzer test.
Hennepin County
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Heather Solberg was on her way home from watching fireworks with friends when she struck in the crosswalk on Highway 169 in Champlin.
CBS
Christopher Beussman was sentenced Monday to nearly 3-and-a-half years for driving drunk and killing a Champlin mother.
Heather Solberg was walking home across Highway 169 in Champlin last June, when a car driven by Beussman hit and killed her.
Beussman also left the scene of the accident. When he was finally caught 20 minutes later, he changed seats with the woman he was with, Ashley Whitney to make it appear that she was driving. Both Beussman and Whitney tested more than twice the legal limit for DUI.
In court Monday, Beussman again told the Solberg family he was sorry.
For Solberg's 13-year-old daughter Nina, the 41-month sentence was not enough.
"I don't agree with the sentencing, but still, at least he has prison time," Nina said.
Solberg's 16-year-old son, Nash, was overcome when he started to talk about his mother and cried. Heather Solberg's father, Stephen Hollingsworth, said the loss has been overwhelming.
"Heather was a mother, a daughter, a sister, a cousin, and aunt, and she'll never be with us again," said Hollingsworth.
Monday's sentencing almost did not happen. The Hennepin County probation office initially recommended probation for Beussman. Judge Mark Wernick agreed at first, but after listening to the victims' impact statements last week, changed his mind.
Henepin Co. Attorney Mike Freeman said the Judge made the right decision, and that probation would not have been enough.
"In our view in the County Attorney's office he deserved time in prison and we were concerned deeply," said Freeman.
Beussmans friends and family did not comment. Solberg's father said he does believe Beussman is truly sorry.
"This is a tragedy for both families, not just our family. We as a group feel for Mr. Beussman's family and for Mr. Beussman, but our loss just can't be repayed," said Hollingsworth
The woman who was with Beussman, Ashley Whitney, has been charged with aiding an offender. She'll be in court next month.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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