Emotional testimony by victim's daughters Emotional testimony by victim's daughters (October 06, 2004)

By Andrea Gemmet
Almanac Staff Writer

Sentencing for the Atherton woman whose car struck and killed pedestrian Atefeh "Amy" Bijan was delayed after two hours of emotional testimony by the victim's two daughters.

Adele Elliott, 83, has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charges stemming from the January 9 accident in which her car struck Ms. Bijan, 75, as she was crossing Santa Cruz Avenue in a crosswalk near Palo Alto Way.

San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Carol Mittlesteadt, who presided over the October 1 sentencing hearing, said she needed time to absorb all the information she got from the victim impact statements presented by Sherry Bijan and Shabnam Anderson, Ms. Bijan's two daughters, said Prosecutor Peter Lynch of the San Mateo County District Attorney's office.

"We made enough of an impact that she wanted to take more time to consider it," said Sherry Bijan.

The sentencing hearing has been continued to November 16, she said.

Judge Mittlesteadt also requested that Ms. Elliott come up with a proposal for the public service she requested to serve in lieu of jail time, said Mr. Lynch.

The fatal accident sparked protests by pedestrians over the safety of the mid-block crosswalk, which traverses a five-lane stretch of Santa Cruz Avenue.

The daughters of Ms. Bijan, who was a midwife and a former member of the Iranian Parliament, have called for more serious charges to be brought against Ms. Elliott, calling the misdemeanor manslaughter charge "a slap on the hand."

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