Woman convicted of manslaughter

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — Baheejah T. Jackson waved goodbye to her family with heavy eyes and her bottom lip tucked in Wednesday after a jury found responsible for the death of a Panama City woman in a head-on collision on U.S. Highway 98 last year.
The jury deliberated for nearly three hours before convicting Jackson of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and possession of marijuana.
Jackson, 26, of Marianna stood next to her attorney Dennis Boothe as the guilty verdict was announced.
Assistant State Attorney Ryan Love said Jackson will only be sentenced on either DUI manslaughter or vehicular homicide, but not both. Love said if she were sentenced to both it would be similar to double jeopardy.
He said it’s common in Florida to try to get a conviction on both felony charges in case a jury chooses one over the other.
Jackson’s sentencing is scheduled for July 8 on either felony charge along with the marijuana possession, which is a misdemeanor. She faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, Love said.
Testimony showed that Jackson had marijuana in her system Feb. 2, 2007, when she was drove west in the inside eastbound lane on U.S. 98 and collided with 74-year-old Ruth J. Lakey near Prophets Parkway in Inlet Beach.
Lakey died at the scene and emergency workers flew Jackson to a Pensacola hospital.
During the trial, experts for the state and the defense testified about what influence the marijuana had on Jackson.
Dr. Bruce Goldberger, a forensic toxicologist and a professor and director of toxicology at the University of Florida, testified for the prosecution. He said a blood test alone cannot determine whether someone is impaired by THC, marijuana’s active ingredient.
After reviewing how much THC Jackson had in her system, the traffic homicide report and testimony from witnesses, Goldberger said Jackson was under the influence and shouldn’t have been behind the wheel.
The amount of THC in a person’s blood spikes as they smoke marijuana. The levels then fall rapidly. Jackson’s had 3.3 nanograms per milliliter of THC in her blood nearly two hours after the accident. Goldberger said that level along with everything else — including slurred speech after the crash and driving the wrong way on a four-lane highway — led him to believe she was under the influence.
Dr. Marland Delaney, a toxicologist in private practice in Tallahassee, testified for the defense. Delaney said there is no way to tell whether Jackson was impaired because everyone absorbs THC differently and the drug affects people’s motor skills in diverse ways.
Delaney agreed that a single blood test cannot determine if someone is high. Everything must be taken into account.
When cross-examined, Delaney said he didn’t look at the traffic homicide report. He said the report wasn’t important. Delaney also said that he didn’t look at the crash site pictures.
After the trial, Lakey’s son, John Lakey, said he doesn’t harbor any ill will toward Jackson or her family.
“Justice was served today, if that sounds corny,” he said. “One thing my mother taught me is we have to be held accountable for our actions.”