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June 4, 2007

Ex-firefighter pleads guilty in crash that killed officer

NEW BEDFORD -- A former Swansea volunteer firefighter changed his plea to guilty today in the motor-vehicle manslaughter of Swansea Police Officer Robert Cabral, who was a school DARE officer beloved by many and known as Officer Bob.

Wayne R. Smith, 50, will face from 5 years to 20 years in prison under the plea agreement in New Bedford Superior Court after his car crashed head on into the police vehicle driven by Cabral, 52, on Route 6 in Swansea the morning of Nov. 5, 2005.

Sentencing is set for June 26.

"No matter what charge they give him, 10 or 20 years or whatever, he still gets to go home to his family," said Tom Cabral, a brother of Robert Cabral. "We have a life sentence without Bobby."

Cabral's family members cried throughout the morning's developments before Judge Robert Rofu as they offered verbal statements on the effect the loss of Cabral has had one them.

Family members of Smith cried as the handcuffs were put on him. They declined comment to reporters at the courthouse.

Tom Cabral expressed disappointment that it took 19 months for Smith to plead guilty, to a charge of motor vehicle manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol.

A second charge was dismissed through the plea because it was a lesser offense and would apparently have been consumed by the larger offense Smith did plead to.

In November 2005, Cabral was on duty early that Saturday when the off-duty volunteer firefighter Smith's Ford pickup crossed into the oncoming lanes and struck Cabral's vehicle.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Alisha Pina and archival reports

A line of some 1,200 people came during visiting hours at Cabral's wake.

In interviews, people remembered Cabral as a substitute teacher and a youth soccer, baseball and basketball coach as well as an officer who worked to steer young people straight of drugs and other temptatiuons. He was a former Case High School football player.

Smith, too, in 2005 was described as someone who had volunteered in the schools. Smith was hospitalized after the crash before being released as the court process that came to today's development began.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:41 PM | Permalink

June 4, 2007

Ex-firefighter pleads guilty in crash that killed officer

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