Beauty Queen On Trial For Assaulting A Flight Attendant
A former Miss Universe contender is accused of assaulting a flight attendant during a drunken tirade that caused an international flight to turn around.Carmen Lechin is standing trial this week in Houston federal court over her actions aboard the June 2013 flight, the Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday.
Lechin, 50, took second runner-up at the 1984 Miss Universe pageant as Miss Venezuela.
She’s accused of intimidating, assaulting and cursing at United Airlines steward Samuel Oliver as she argued with her husband in the first class section of a flight from Houston to Bogotá.
Lechin became angry when flight staff wouldn’t give her a pillow and she began clashing with her estranged husband, Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Winter said in the prosecution’s opening statements.
She’s accused of intimidating, assaulting and cursing at United Airlines steward Samuel Oliver as she argued with her husband in the first class section of a flight from Houston to Bogotá.
Lechin became angry when flight staff wouldn’t give her a pillow and she began clashing with her estranged husband, Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Winter said in the prosecution’s opening statements.
EAGLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Carmen Lechin, 50, is standing trial in federal court this week on charges she assaulted a United Airlines flight attendant aboard a June 2013 flight. This mug shot shows her after a 2011 arrest in a different incident in Eagle County, Colo.
An off-duty police officer led Lechin back to coach with her hands in zip ties, and the flight returned to Houston, according to the Chronicle. The officer was the trial's first witness and told the court she could smell alcohol on Lechin’s breath that day.
Lechin faces charges of felony interference with a flight crew and misdemeanor assault aboard an aircraft.
She was on probation when she boarded the flight due to her prior charges of domestic violence and driving under the influence in Beaver Creek, Col,the Vail Daily reported. Police said they had to lay a spike strip across a highway to stop her from fleeing in her blue Hummer H3 on Christmas Eve 2011.
Lechin won second runner-up as Miss Venezuela at the 1984 Miss Universe contest. She went by her maiden name of Carmen María Montiel at the time.
Her legal team has claimed her husband is trying to gain the upper hand in their divorce proceedings by supporting the case against his estranged wife, according to the Chronicle. Lechin’s attorney, F. Andino Reynal, also blamed the flight attendant when he addressed jurors.
“We're going to prove to you that Samuel Oliver did not follow regulations, that he became hysterical, that he overreacted and that he displayed poor judgment,” Reynal said.
Carmen Lechin, 50, is standing trial in federal court this week on charges she assaulted a United Airlines flight attendant aboard a June 2013 flight. This mug shot shows her after a 2011 arrest in a different incident in Eagle County, Colo.
An off-duty police officer led Lechin back to coach with her hands in zip ties, and the flight returned to Houston, according to the Chronicle. The officer was the trial's first witness and told the court she could smell alcohol on Lechin’s breath that day.
Lechin faces charges of felony interference with a flight crew and misdemeanor assault aboard an aircraft.
She was on probation when she boarded the flight due to her prior charges of domestic violence and driving under the influence in Beaver Creek, Col,the Vail Daily reported. Police said they had to lay a spike strip across a highway to stop her from fleeing in her blue Hummer H3 on Christmas Eve 2011.
Lechin won second runner-up as Miss Venezuela at the 1984 Miss Universe contest. She went by her maiden name of Carmen María Montiel at the time.
Her legal team has claimed her husband is trying to gain the upper hand in their divorce proceedings by supporting the case against his estranged wife, according to the Chronicle. Lechin’s attorney, F. Andino Reynal, also blamed the flight attendant when he addressed jurors.
“We're going to prove to you that Samuel Oliver did not follow regulations, that he became hysterical, that he overreacted and that he displayed poor judgment,” Reynal said.
Sourceeinnews.com
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