Guilford Boating Accident Defendant Faces New Charges

The Guilford man who has an upcoming court date for second-degree manslaughter charge, Arthur King Hall, 25, of Old Quarry Road, was arrested Aug. 24 at 8:34 p.m. by the Guilford Police Department and charged with disorderly conduct.

Deputy Chief of Police Jeffrey Hutchinson said Hall was knocking on the door of a home owned by his father, Bennett Hall, at 134 Old Quarry Road. The house is being rented to tenants who were at the residence during the incident. Police say Hall tried to push open a door. On the other side of the door, the tenants tried to keep him out of the home.

Officers Thornton and Leary and Sgt. Olszewski responded to the call and found Hall, who "appeared to be intoxicated."

"He was verbally belligerent to the officers and would not follow demands such as showing his hands when ordered to do so," said Hutchinson.

Hall was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. He is free on a promise to appear. At press time, he had a court date of Sept. 7 at New Haven Court, GA 23, on 121 Elm Street.

Just 20 days following his court date for disorderly conduct, Hall is due back in court, this time the New Haven Superior Court on Church Street for a pre-trial court appearance for charges he faces for manslaughter in the second degree.

The charges stem from a Sept. 3, 2009 boating accident in which Hall, allegedly the driver at the time, slammed his father's Boston Whaler into a seawall near Old Quarry Road in Guilford. One passenger in the boat, Jonathan Cook, was killed. Two other passengers, Elizabeth Protzman and Devon Hardy, were injured.

Hall is being represented by attorney Christopher Morano of Essex, who said the Aug. 24 incident at the rental house was unfortunate, but more of a misunderstanding. He said the rental house is on the same property as Hall's residence and that the tenants are close friends of the family who have been renting the same property for years.

"Mr. Hall is very upset about last year's accident and the injury to those on the boat and the loss of life of his friend," said Morano. "The boating accident coupled with the fact that he might go to jail has been a very heavy burden for Mr. Hall to bear."

Morano said Hall and his father are working to get appropriate treatment so the younger Hall can deal with the turbulent future he faces.