Published: April 08, 2008 03:55 pm            

Bertram pleads guilty to second degree manslaughter

Monticello — A Wayne County woman, originally charged with murder in connection with

the May 2005 death of a local man, has pled guilty to an amended charge of

manslaughter second degree. Emma Bertram entered the guilty plea on Tuesday,

April 1 in Wayne Circuit Court.

She also pled guilty to amended charges of second degree assault and

D.U.I.

The charges are related to a two-vehicle accident that occurred May 10,

2005 on KY 1275 near Fall Creek.

According to police, Bertram was traveling south on KY 1275 in a

Chevrolet truck, when she collided with a car driven by Eric Adkins, of

Monticello. Adkins died of multiple injuries, including blunt force trauma

to the left side of his chest, according to the Wayne County Coroner's

Office.

Bertram was taken into custody shortly after the accident.

While she was initially charged with manslaughter second degree, the

charge was upgraded when she was indicted by a local grand jury.

The indictment included a count of murder, first degree assault, and

operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Bertram has been free on bond since shortly after the accident occurred.

She appeared before Circuit Judge Vernon Miniard, Jr., last week, along with

her attorney Tom Carroll, as details of the plea agreement were reviewed.

Commonwealth's Attorney Matthew Leveridge recommended a sentence of 10

years each for the manslaughter second degree charge and the assault second

degree charge. He recommended a sentence of seven days on the charge of

D.U.I.

Under the agreement, the sentences would run concurrently for a total of

10 years.

Leveridge stated that he is opposed to probation or any early release in

this case. Bertram was taken into custody after entering the guilty plea.

Miniard set formal sentencing for May 6 in Wayne Circuit Court.

        

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