Husband Ran Over Disabled Wife With Tractor Trailer: Prosecutors

MARIETTA, GA -- A 56-year-old Marietta man has been convicted on charges stemming from an attack on his disabled wife outside an extended-stay motel. A Cobb County jury on Thursday convicted Walter Leon Gabriel on aggravated assault and other offenses related to the Sept. 25, 2015, incident.

According to Cobb police, Gabriel and his wife were arguing around 2 a.m. about his infidelity at a motel on Powers Ferry Road. The District Attorney's Office notes Gabriel is a long-haul trucker whose wife, who has multiple sclerosis, sometimes accompanied him on trips.

Prosecutors said Gabriel went to the tractor trailer to leave and his wife pursued him, "begging for her medication that was stored in the truck." The woman told police she and her husband made eye contact "before he put the truck in gear and accelerated toward her," the District Attorney's Office added. Unfortunately, her condition prevented her from moving out of the way before the truck hit her.

After the collision, Gabriel drove away. The victim suffered broken bones and had to undergo repeated surgeries, the office stated. Assistant District Attorney argued that the crash was not simply a mistake.

“The defense would have you believe this was an accident,” Parrish told jurors. “But what do you do after you cause an accident? You say you’re sorry. You say you didn’t mean for this to happen. Mr. Gabriel has never apologized for hitting his wife with his vehicle. He never visited her in the hospital. His actions were malicious. He knew what he’d done.”

Jurors convicted Gabriel of aggravated assault under the Family Violence Act, four counts of aggravated battery (also under family violence), four counts of serious injury by vehicle and two counts of hit and run. He faces up to 170 years in prison when he is sentenced by Cobb Superior Court Judge Robert Leonard. However, sentencing for Gabriel has not been scheduled.

Marietta attorney Christopher Campbell represented Gabriel, who was returned to custody after the verdict. He had been free on bond while awaiting trial, which began Dec. 4 with jury selection.

Photo: Walter Leon Gabriel. Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office