Before dinner a lecture about Sir Michael’s life was delivered by Air Marshal Richard Knighton, the UK’s Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, who has long been connected to one of Britain’s most famous university cities. I was privileged to be there among much more distinguished guests, including Sir Michael’s widow, Lady Sybil, Marshall Company board members, and others connected to the Cambridge-based firm, who gathered at London’s Royal Aeronautical Society. The COVID-19 pandemic meant a celebration of his life, organized by the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers to pay tribute to this extraordinary man, was finally able to take place in February. For that reason, his story is worth revisiting. He set a standard many businesses, not just in aviation, would do well to emulate. But, perhaps most importantly, he was widely regarded as a kind and humble man who was fiercely loyal to the company’s employees. "This is a plain misstatement of the burden of proof, a violation of the defendant's constitutional rights and grounds for a new trial."Īiro's sentencing was scheduled for this month but has been postponed until November so Walsh can respond to Bele's new trial motion.Ĭourt files show the state Commission on Teacher Credentialing has requested Airo's plea, probation conditions and other documents for potential mandatory revocation or denial of his credential.Sir Michael Marshall, who was the grandson of David Marshall, the founder of the eponymous British company, was a legend in the country’s aerospace industry and arguably one of its most influential figures in a generation. She "told the jury that they should find defendant guilty because the state's evidence was reasonable," Beles argued. Walsh repeatedly asked the jury to "reject the unreasonable" and find Airo guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The attorney also states that Walsh committed "prejudicial misconduct" in violation of a state Supreme Court ruling that prosecutors cannot argue that a "reasonable" view of the evidence meets their burden of proof. She said during the preliminary hearing that she would sometimes cross her arms to cover her body and and he would pull them away, then during the trial that he would touch her arm to "signal me to move" rather than moving her arms himself.Ĭonvicted of sexual abuse, former teacher seeks new trial Michael Airo cites errors on behalf of his own lawyer, prosecution Beles argues there was insufficient evidence to prove Airo used force or fear, citing differing testimony from the girl. He argues that without Abbot's testimony, there is a "reasonable probability" that Airo would not have been convicted.īeles also asks that the court overturn the three counts related to using force and bar the prosecution from retrying those charges. "No reasonably competent defense attorney would knowingly present such incriminating and highly prejudicial evidence," Beles wrote. In the motion, Beles argues that Armstrong erred in calling a forensic psychologist who evaluated Airo, Brian Abbot, to testify that Airo is not disposed to commit sexual offenses against children and is not a pedophile but that he showed sexual interest in underage, developed girls, as the young girl in the case was at the time.Īrmstrong's conduct "fell below professional norms" and violated Airo's Sixth Amendment right to an effective lawyer, Beles writes in the motion. Two months after his conviction, he hired Oakland attorney Robert Beles to replace Palo Alto lawyer Michael Armstrong, who represented Airo through his trial.īeles filed in early August a motion seeking a new trial, arguing that Armstrong allowed for "highly prejudicial testimony" against Airo and that the prosecution committed misconduct during the trial.īeles and Deputy District Attorney Lindsay Walsh, who prosecuted the case, did not respond to requests for comment. He was charged in 2016 after the girl, now in her late 20s, told a therapist that he would inappropriately kiss her breasts, stomach and buttocks while she was taking showers at their home in Palo Alto when she was between the ages of 11 and 13 years old.Īiro denied the allegations in full. Previous NextĪrmed with a new defense attorney, former Ohlone Elementary School teacher Michael Airo, who was found guilty in February for sexually abusing his ex-girlfriend's daughter more than a decade ago, is seeking a new trial.Ī jury found Airo, 37, guilty of four felony charges: continuous sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 14 and three counts of lewd or lascivious acts with the use of force, violence, duress, menace or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person. Former Ohlone Elementary School teacher Michael Airo was convicted of sexually abusing his ex-girlfriend's daughter after standing trial at the Palo Alto Courthouse in early February.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |