Find us on Facebook
Follow us on TwitterManslaughter trial postponed
Published: July 14, 2008
Updated: September 18, 2008
CHATHAM – The trial scheduled today for a Danville woman accused of manslaughter has been continued because her attorney is ill.
Monica Leigh Major, of 1030 Ferry Road, was supposed to stand trial today, but her attorney, Joe Garrett, had a medical emergency, said Bryan Haskins, deputy commonwealth attorney.
Haskins said he has to get an update on Garrett’s condition and gather out-of-state witnesses before the trial can be re-scheduled.
Major is charged with aggravated involuntary DUI manslaughter. Her 5-year-old daughter, Jasmine Major, was killed in a single-vehicle accident on June 23, 2007 when they were headed toward Danville. Jasmine Major was pronounced dead at the scene, Haskins said.
Major is out on bond.
Original story:
From staff reports
DANVILLE — Five-year-old Jasmine Saige Major of Danville is dead and Monica Leigh Major is in stable condition following a single-vehicle crash at 10:28 p.m. Saturday in Ringgold.
According to the Virginia State Police, the child was a passenger in a Ford Explorer being driven by Monica Leigh Major at the time of the accident. Jasmine was not wearing a seat belt.
Emergency personnel held up sheets to block the scene as victims were extricated from the wreck. A Life Flight helicopter was summoned and landed across from Auto Outlet USA near the scene. Monica Leigh Major was transported by helicopter to Duke University Medical Center, where Duke officials say she remains in stable condition.
According to a report filed by Virginia State Trooper J.L. Altice, the wreck occurred on U.S. 58 in the westbound lane east of Route 985 across from Auto Outlet USA in Pittsylvania County.
The vehicle ran off the right side of the road, struck a guard-rail, went airborne for 200 to 300 feet before striking an embankment and overturning. Officials haven’t released the reason for the vehicle running off the side of the road.
According to Jasmine’s obituary on page A4, she was a rising first-grader at Brosville Elementary School and a member of Providence Baptist Church, Providence, N.C.
Reader Reactions
“The woman has paid the price”?Hmm… Tell that to the one’s who miss Jasmine’s smile, laughter, singing, dancing, swimming, telling you that she Loves you, pouting, crying, riding her bike, giving out her wonderful hugs and the list keeps on going!! There are so many things that the family and friends of Jasmine don’t get to see anymore because of what her MOTHER chose to do! I am one of many who feel that she has NOT paid the price of the heartache that she has caused all of us to feel! Yes, God will punish her in his own way and the State should do so too!! I know that people are entilted to their opinions but since when did it become ok to take a child’s life? It’s ok for a parent to drink, put their child in the car(without a seatbelt)and drive… Right?? NO!! It’s not ok!! This whole situation has made me sick! I know that people feel sorry for the Mother but she is the one who is to blame for this whole accident!! She could have made a phone call, had Jasmine picked up and she would have gotten home safely! The mother chose not to do so! The results… Jasmine’s Death! Personally I think that she should spend time in a jail cell, looking at bare walls constantly thinking about what she did! As far as the mothers healing process, partying and club hopping sure is the way to go!! Maybe she should get it out of her system now! I wonder if Jails hold cell-block parties??
I wanted to add to anyone that doesn’t agree with the mother getting a jail sentence. Do you have children? How would it make you feel if a person that you trusted to take care of your children drank too much one night and drove recklessly without them in their seatbelts and hurt them. Or in this case one of them died. Would it be a slap in the face everytime you heard about them partying and living it up? Or would that be okay with you?
I am Jasmine’s Nana, and I was with Monica on the night of the accident. I know first hand what happened. Jasmine’s booster seat could not handle the impact from the accident, therefore she was ejected from the belted booster seat. Monica was a good mother who loved her child dearly. She would have NEVER intially harmed her in any way. People need to know the whole story and know her before making false aqusations. I know more than anyone else the pain my daughter has went through this past year. She has suffered more than anyone could explain. She cannot even step out of her house without someone talking about her in a negative way. Monica has not driven since the accident. These negative comments hurt Monica and all those that love her. For your information, her benefit account (also jars) went toward her bills not for pleasure. I really appreciate everyones prayers and support for my daughter and our family. I wish that other people would think before they speak negatively against her.
Jasmine’s Nana
I just want to say that no matter what happens to Monica, whether she goes to jail or not, it will not bring poor Jasmine back. I personally think if she cannot accept responsibilty for her actions and OWN up to her HUGE mistake that has hurt EVERYONE that loves and misses Jasmine, that maybe she should get some jail time. Maybe that will give her time think about what she’s done.
So I am guessing you must know Monica and have witnessed first hand her doing what you wrote? If she still parties and drives drunk I agree she has not learned her lesson. But I don’t know how shes handling it. It was careless not to buckle that child up, when I read that I gasped and told myself how could a mother not buckle in her child? Even though I know this fact I still stand by my orginal statement!Monica should not face a sentence.
What lounging by the pool everyday, partying on the weekends & taking all the money out of the jars at all the local restaurants to go shopping!!! Yep that sounds like living in her own jail!!! But now if that was someone else drinking & driving & hit someones car & killed them then Im sure everyone would be screaming they should go to jail but since it was her mother who was suppose to protect her she shouldnt pay the price!!! I totally disagree but hey everyone has their own oppinion!!!
This was a tragic mistake. Yeah this mother should’nt have drank and drove. But she was that childs mother. She took care of her got up with her each morning, fed her breakfast, put her to bed at night. And now it’s over.What good is putting her in jail. I knew of Monica in highschool. Did not associate with her but know that she is NOT a monster. Do you think that child would want to sentence her mother to jail? The burden of knowing you lost your child by your own hands is enough of a sentence. The mother is living in her own jail mentally.
OMG….are you serious??? You have got to be crazy!!! So I guess I can go get drunk, murder someone & then say Oh I made a mistake & not got to jail!!! No I don’t think so….you commit a crime you should pay the price like everyone else has to do!!!!
The reckless mother should be punished for her thoughtless actions, Jasmine paid the ultimate price for her irresponsible mother which was her life but Monica has yet to suffer!
I do realize that news reporters have to report the news but the way the original story was written showed no respect to the family of this child.
Advertisement