Jury selection will continue Tuesday for the man accused of killing two brothers while boating drunk on Lake Lanier in 2012. But the boys’ family would prefer that the suspect accept a plea deal and spare them the pain of a trial.
Paul Bennett, 45, of Cumming, is charged with homicide by vessel, failure to render aid, reckless operation of a vessel and boating under the influence for the June 18, 2012 crash that killed the Prince brothers, Jake, 9, and Griffin, 13. Bennett’s boat allegedly crashed into a pontoon boat carrying 13 people on a late-night outing, sending both boys into the water.
The eldest Prince brother pulled Jake’s body from the water after the crash. But it took nine days of searching before divers found Griffin’s body 113 feet under water.
The brothers' deaths devastated not only their family, but also their Gwinnett County community, which held fundraisers and memorials to honor the boys. Hundreds of people attended the brothers' joint funeral held at the family's church in Suwanee.
On a Facebook page created as a memorial to the brothers, the family posted that it hoped Bennett would accept a plea deal and avoid a trial.
“Paul Bennett has rejected the deal and has decided instead to fight all the charges and force us to endure a trial,” the family posted. “He still has the option to accept the deal at any time. We are praying that he will. If he won’t, we are praying for the strength to make it through what will be a very painful trial.”
Bennett was arrested the day after the fatal crash and charged with boating under the influence. Several weeks later, charges against Bennett were upgraded to include homicide.
This past June, Bennett's attorney tried to get all of the charges dismissed, arguing that officers lacked probable cause when making the arrest. That motion was denied.
About the Author
