February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Patrick Markey
The Derry-born ambulance driver who pleaded guilty two weeks ago to her part in the deaths of three Brooklyn children will be formally sentenced on Nov. 23, according to New York City prosecutors.
Anne Lamberson pleaded guilty to a charge of criminally negligent homicide and accepted a sentence of five years’ probation. Unless she breaks the conditions of her bail arrangements, Lamberson will receive the agreed sentence next month.
Lamberson had faced a second-degree manslaughter charge after the private ambulance she was driving crashed into the family car of Angela Igwe at an intersection in October 1998.
Three of Ms Igwe’s children — Damilola Morak, 7, Olusegun Morak, 5 and 2-year-old Akintunde Morak — died in the collision.
Lamberson said at the time that she had accepted the plea because of concern for her daughter Kathy and a desire for closure. If she had been found guilty at a trial, Lamberson would have almost certainly faced a jail sentence.
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Prosecutors, who have said they believe the deaths were not intentional, said they will apply after a year to have Lamberson’s probation dismissed if she has no violations.
But Lamberson still faces a civil lawsuit. The Igwe family have hired former O.J. Simpson lawyer Peter Neufeld to deal with their legal matters.
Lamberson’s parents emigrated from the Bogside in the early 1960s to the United States. Her case had attracted attention and support in Northern Ireland after SDLP leader John Hume voiced concern over the serious charges.