Jury Begins Deliberating In Domonic Whilby's Murder Trial

NEW YORK, NY — Jurors began deliberating on Thursday in the murder trial of Domonic Whilby, who is accused of killing an MTA bus driver while drunkenly driving a stolen truck.

MTA bus operator William Pena was killed more than three years ago when prosecutors say Whilby drunkenly stole a commercial truck in the Meatpacking District and crashed into Pena as he drove along his bus route. The fatal crash, which happened after 5 a.m. on Feb. 12, 2014, occurred while Whilby was drunk and high, according to his attorneys.

"The defendant killed Mr. Pena because the defendant didn't care about the risk he created," prosecutor Randolph Clarke said during his summation at Whilby's murder trial on Thursday, according to the New York Daily News.

Whilby, the 25-year-old nephew of model Tyson Beckford, was drinking and partying with his uncle at the 1 Oak club on 17th Street on the night of the crash. Whilby's attorney Laura Miranda blamed her client's intoxication for the accident, saying he was "aware of nothing" when he stole the truck and began driving, the Daily News reported.

"All accidents are tragic...not all tragedies are a crime," Miranda said.

The jury began deliberating on Thursday.

Lead image via Shutterstock.