By Sharon Turco
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mike and Kimberly Asbrock of Mason, parents of the slain teenager, wait for the trial to begin Tuesday (Gary Landers photos) | ZOOM |

Christopher Asbrock came home from college one weekend in November 2001 to go to the Cincinnati Bengals game with his younger brother Scott.

The brothers listened to Monty Python's Always Look on the Bright Side of Life in the car. They spotted a Cobra, Scott Asbrock's favorite sports car, as they drove to the game.

The unusually warm November day seemed perfect.

As they walked across Second Street to Paul Brown Stadium, Christopher Asbrock told his 15-year-old brother, "Nothing can ruin this day." His brother shushed him: "Don't say that."

Seconds later, a sport utility vehicle sped down Second Street, ran a red light, and struck and killed Scott Asbrock.

Christopher Asbrock, 19, broke down in sobs Tuesday as he testified in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court about his brother's death.

Darrin Stafford of Evansville, Ind., a paraplegic charged with driving the SUV that killed 15-year-old Scott Asbrock before a Bengals game downtown, is wheeled into court. | ZOOM |

Darrin Stafford, 31, of Evansville, Ind., who is accused of driving the SUV that killed Scott Asbrock, showed no emotion, even as more than a dozen family members wiped tears from their eyes just a few feet away.

"I couldn't believe this was happening to me," Christopher Asbrock said. "I knelt down beside him. His eyes were glazed over.

"I kind of figured he was dead, but I didn't want to think it," he said.

Stafford is facing a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide and three counts of vehicular assault.

Stafford, who is paralyzed from the waist down, was driving a Kia Sportage that was unequipped for his disability. Police say he ran a stoplight and plowed into six people as they crossed the street in front of the stadium.

His passenger, Frederick Shipman, 44, of Birmingham, Ala., owned the vehicle and is accused of letting Stafford drive because he had been drinking.

Shipman is facing the same charges as Stafford, plus additional charges of reckless homicide and vandalism. His trial is scheduled to begin Monday.

The men, who were also going to the Bengals game, work together in Evansville.

In the trial's opening statements, Hamilton County Assistant Prosecutor Gerald Krumpelbeck explained what happened after Stafford hit the pedestrians.

Scott Asbrock

Cincinnati Police Officer Jon Harris, who was directing traffic, chased the car about a block until it stopped.

"He demands (Stafford) get out of the car," Krumpelbeck said. "(But) he says he can't, he's paralyzed."

Then Stafford told the officer his foot got caught in the accelerator, according to Krumpelbeck.

Police say Stafford, who has a car especially equipped for his disability, was driving Shipman's car by moving his paralyzed leg from the brake to the accelerator.

Krumpelbeck said Stafford also had been drinking; his blood alcohol content was 0.043. That is below Ohio's presumed intoxicated level of 0.10. He was driving without adapted equipment in the car to fit his disability. And, his license was suspended.

If convicted, Stafford faces up to 23 years in prison.

He has been in the Hamilton County Justice Center since the accident.

After hearing opening statements, Judge Robert Taylor suggested Stafford plead guilty, adding he would then consider a sentence of 11 years in prison.

Taylor said should Stafford be found guilty, he'd be inclined to sentence him to the maximum 23-year term. Stafford ignored the suggestion.

E-mail sturco@enquirer.com