MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - An accused drunk driver charged with hitting and killing a young father of two is no longer under house arrest.
William Marshall was killed by a drunk driver while he was checking his mail in May 2011; his death left his two children orphaned.
Police say Cordova teen Samer Sakaan was the man behind the wheel. He was released from jail on a $30,000 bond. A few months later he was charged with public intoxication and trespassing. Still, his bond wasn't revoked, but he was forced to wear an ankle monitor. On March 27, the monitor was removed.
Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich says, "The attorney that represents the defendant asked that some of the conditions of bail be lessened so that it would not be so onerous on the defendant. Our prosecutors objected to that and said that the conditions are in place, they're good and let's leave it alone. The Judge ruled otherwise."
Marshall's friends we're outraged when they found out Sakaan was released on such a small bond to begin with.
"That's one less restriction on the defendant, it causes people to scratch their heads and wonder what's going on," Weirich says.
The DA says her prosecutors fought to keep the monitor in place, but the Judge makes the final call. "Defendants are entitled to bail, under the state of Tennessee, unless it's a case my office is seeking the death penalty. And this is a case where he has a bail, the conditions are set, he still has conditions in place and our hope in terms of the DA's office is that he does not pick up any more crime."
Prosecutors with the District Attorney's office can recommend the Judge to revoke bond if a defendant violates bail conditions or picks up a new case.
Sakaan is charged with DUI and reckless homicide.
