March 10, 2008 Vermont man re-sentenced in fatal boating accident Play video

(NECN: Middlebury, VT) - A Vermont man faces re-sentencing for a boating accident that killed two children on Lake Champlain. Police say George Martin was drunk when he flipped his boat back in July of 2002.

Before Martin arrived in court in Middlebury, Vermont this morning, he was a free man. He had completed his sentence for his role in the deaths of two children, aged nine and four years.

In 2002, Martin, of Charlotte, Vermont, was driving a boat that overturned on Lake Champlain. 11 people were on board. Two of them, Melissa and Trevor Mack, died when the became trapped underwater.

Martin was convicted in 2004 of two counts of boating while intoxicated with death resulting, and was sent to jail for six years. But last fall, the Vermont Supreme Court reversed one of the convictions, ruling only one charge could be filed under Vermont law.

Martin was released, but today, he was back in court to be re-sentenced.

His attorney argued that Martin has acted responsibly since his conviction, staying away from alcohol and taking on projects -- he worked to create a new prison library. He said Martin needs to be free to care for his ailing mother.

The judge considered the arguments, but decided to sentence Martin to one more year in jail.

The victims' parents said they were happy with the outcome of today's hearing.

NECN reporter Anya Huneke has the story.