Charlestown man pleads not guilty in fatal drunk driving case

By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

A Charlestown man today pleaded not guilty to charges he was driving drunk when his Jeep struck and fatally injured a man as the victim crossed Soldiers Field Road in Brighton early Sunday morning.

Robert J. Finnerty, 26, was arraigned in Brighton Municipal Court. He is charged with operating under the influence and motor vehicle homicide, according to Suffolk District Attorney Daniel C. Conley's office. Judge David T. Donnelly set his bail at $25,000 cash.

Finnerty's attorney, William Crowe of Boston, did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

In a State Police report filed in court, Trooper John McCarthy said he arrived at the scene around 3 a.m. and saw two paramedics standing over the victim, whom they had just pronounced dead.

McCarthy said the victim, whose identity remained unknown this afternoon, was walking when he was struck in the left-hand lane of Soldiers Field Road near its intersection with Everett street.

Finnerty was in his car and admitted he was driving, police said. He initially denied drinking alcohol, but then was quoted as telling the trooper, "well...not a lot, maybe a glass of wine or something earlier.''

McCarthy said Finnerty was unsteady on his feet, had glassy eyes and smelled of alcohol. McCarthy wrote that he arrested Finnerty after he failed two field sobriety tests.

Finnerty's passenger, identified in a police report as Alex J. Saunders, told police they were traveling at 35 to 40 miles an hour when they struck the man. Saunders said Finnerty was supposed to be the designated driver and both men had been in a Kenmore Square nightclub before the fatal crash.

One witness who was driving behind Finnerty told police he saw the brake lights activate on the Jeep just before it stopped.

Finnerty is due back in court Dec. 2.

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