Woman Convicted of Vehicular Manslaughter, Hit-Run Driving

A Newport Beach woman, described by prosecutors as irrational and meddlesome in family matters, was convicted Friday of vehicular manslaughter in the death of her stepdaughter’s husband, whom she ran down in her Mercedes Benz.

The ruling also found Betty Y. Davies, 60, guilty of felony hit-and-run driving in the Dec. 19, 1989, death of James Ward, 31, of Costa Mesa.

Davies could receive a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a $10,000 fine. She was released on her own recognizance pending a Nov. 22 sentencing hearing.

Davies’ first trial ended in March after jurors deadlocked 10 to 2 in favor of conviction. After both sides agreed to a non-jury trial, Superior Court Judge John J. Ryan decided the case based on evidence presented in the first trial and after listening to new closing arguments.

“I’m glad this has ended. I don’t think I’ve ever had a case this emotionally draining,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Lew Rosenblum.

Defense attorney Marshall Schulman said his client may seek a new trial.

Rosenblum had contended that Davies, who had been lurking outside the Wards’ Costa Mesa home, became upset when James Ward confronted her.

As the victim stood in front of Davies’ Mercedes Benz, she drove the car into him. The impact reportedly threw Ward on the hood, then into the windshield before he was flung to the ground. He died three days later of head injuries.

Schulman attempted to present James Ward as the aggressor. Since there were no dents on the car grill, Schulman said it was “physically impossible” for Ward to have died as the prosecution contended.