Vehicular homicide trial of ex-prosecutor starts today in Bucks County

The trial of a former prosecutor charged with vehicular homicide in the death of his girlfriend last year outside a Newtown restaurant is scheduled to begin today in Bucks County Court.

Richard Patton, 52, of Solebury Township, is accused of causing the April 26, 2007, death of Heather Demou in the parking lot of La Stalla. Demou, 34, of Buckingham Township, died of head injuries after falling from the passenger side of Patton's truck.

Both were intoxicated and had been arguing before the incident. Prosecutors say that Patton knew Demou was standing on a running board on the passenger side of the truck, but pulled away anyway, causing her to fall and hit her head.

Defense attorneys, however, contend that Patton had no idea Demou was clinging to the truck, and that his view of her was blocked by a coat hanging behind the passenger-side headrest of his pickup truck.

Patton, who works as a private defense attorney, is a former assistant district attorney in Bucks County and a former prosecutor with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office. The case is being prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office.

According to court records and pretrial testimony, Patton and Demou had a stormy, jealous and sometimes violent relationship. Patton's attorney has sought to keep testimony about their prior spats out of evidence in the case, but prosecutors say his alleged history of abusive behavior is relevant.

The case is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. before Bucks County President Judge David W. Heckler.