Jury reaches verdict in doctor's hit and run trial

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

(4/10/06 - HOUSTON) -- A plastic surgeon was convicted of intoxication assault Monday for running over two British women then driving away in his Mercedes Benz as they lay bleeding on the roadside.

The sentencing phase of Mark Douglas Gilliland's trial was to begin Monday after jurors took a break. He faces up to 10 years in prison on the two charges.

Joanna Moore died at the scene but was brought back to life by paramedics. She was tossed into the air, her skull was fractured and her face was so swollen her father couldn't recognize her. The other woman, Amanda Holland, testified that her last memory of the March 2005 accident was seeing the headlights of Gilliland's car. Holland's jaw and ankle were broken.

Both sides agreed Gilliland had alcohol, the prescription sleep aid Ambien, a diet drug and an anti-depressant in his system at the time of the accident.

Prosecutor Warren Diepraam said Gilliland didn't stop to help the women because he knew he was too intoxicated to be driving.

Defense attorney Dick DeGuerin said the women looked the wrong way -- as they would in England, where cars drive on the left side of the street -- and stepped into Gilliland's path. DeGuerin said the accident was unavoidable.

Prosecutors contended Gilliland drove onto the sidewalk, striking the women. But DeGuerin said there was no damage to the bottom of the surgeon's car, which couldn't have cleared the curb without damage.

Moore testified she was always extremely careful when crossing the street in the United States -- sometimes looking 10 times before crossing.

The women were in Houston working as producers for a television show called "Animal Cops: Houston." Moore said she hasn't been able to work for more than a year because of her injuries.

Gilliland was arrested by an off-duty Houston police officer who noticed he was driving erratically, speeding and that his windshield had been smashed, prosecutors said. Prosecutors showed jurors the shattered windshield during opening statements.

The state said it suspended Gilliland's medical license because of "drunkenness; excessive use of drugs, narcotics, chemicals, or another substance."

In 2004, Gilliland was charged with driving while intoxicated in a Houston suburb but pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was fined $200.

He was placed on probation for four years by the state board in 1998 for writing prescriptions for family members for Ambien, Valium and other drugs. Gilliland also reported he had received inpatient treatment for substance abuse in 1997.

Gilliland's medical board probation was terminated a year early when his psychiatrist reported the surgeon had "gained a great insight into his disease and himself."

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