BY KEITH LACEY
A Sudbury man was cleared of three charges he was facing by an eight-man, four-woman jury Friday following a week-long trial.
Michael Baiani, 34, testified he was in fear for his own safety when he was chased by a group of people attending a house party last September.
The jury agreed with him and found him not guilty of dangerous driving, assault and leaving the scene of an accident.
Baiani testified when he left the party last Sept. 18, he got into his car and was travelling at a very slow rate of speed when he turned around and saw
a young man on the hood of his car.
Fearing he would continue to be beat up, Baiani testified he left the scene. He didn?t feel he had done anything wrong. The man on the hood of his car, Daniel Norbert, 21, didn?t appear injured.
Several witnesses at the party testified Baiani wouldn?t leave the party so they forced him out. He then jumped into his car and sped off hitting Norbert in the parking lot, sending him flying.
The jury deliberated for several hours Friday before acquitting Baiani on all counts.
The trial heard Norbert suffered a broken ankle and wore a cast for four months.
