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Many jurors familiar with teen's
tragic death September
30, 2007
By Subrina Dhammi 
Click here to watch video
ALBANY - Jury selection is moving
along slowly for the trial of a man accused of causing the death of
a 13-year-old boy with autism. That's because 90 percent of the
potential jurors said they've heard the story of Jonathan Carey's
death.
Edwin Tirado is accused of
inappropriately restraining Jonathan, which police say caused his
death.
Tirado is expected to take the
stand in his own trial.
The story has been highly
publicized. Out of about 100 potential jurors brought in Monday,
most said they've already formed an opinion of the defendant.
Jonathan died on Feb. 15 while in
the care of two aides from the O.D. Heck Developmental Center.
Police say the boy stopped breathing after Tirado restrained him.
It happened in a van during an
outing. The other aide, Nadeem Mall, was driving. Police say the two
aides continued to drive around with Jonathan's lifeless body in the
van for 90 minutes.
On Feb. 22, Mall and Tirado were
charged with manslaughter.
Jonathan's Law was signed on May 6.
It was a major development for Jonathan's parents. Michael Carey
says he believed his son was abused while in the care of the state
mental health system. Jonathan's Law now allows parents to access
those abuse records.
The Carey's continue fight for
reform within the system. This trial is a major hurdle in that
fight.
"We believe this is part of that
reform. So we've got to go through some more suffering," Carey said.
Mall copped a plea on July 30. He's
serving six months behind bars and will have to testify against
Tirado.
Jonathan's mother, Lisa Carey, will
also testify.
"I don't think the entire thing
will ever be fully behind us. But just knowing people are being held
accountable would be a very good thing," she said.
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