Suspect in hit-run that killed homeless woman has secret settlement conference

Scene of accident that took the life of Kimberly Lussier, left. Arrested in the hit-run was Christopher Robinson of Milton, right. (Scene shot, RPD; Lucier, Rochester Voice file; Robinson, RPD)

DOVER - The Milton man accused of leaving the scene of a June motor vehicle crash that killed a homeless Rochester woman attended a settlement conference in Strafford Superior Court on Friday where a family members was expected to speak on behalf of the suspect.
The settlement conference was not open to the public, but the prosecutor in the case said a trial date is still set for July.
According to the New Hampshire Judicial Branch website, a settlement conference, "invites the individuals impacted by the situation to speak and provides the opportunity for all persons involved to listen to each other."
The process is carried out in an informal setting and is managed by a judge who is not the judge hearing the case, in this case retired Strafford Superior Court Judge Steven M. Houran.
Christopher Robinson, 43, of Applebee Road, Milton, was indicted by a Strafford County grand jury in October.
According to the indictment, Robinson "knew or should have known that he was involved in an accident while driving a vehicle which resulted in death to (Kimberly Lucier) and knowingly failed to immediately stop his vehicle at the scene of the accident."
Robinson turned himself into police on June 8, six days after the crash on Milton Road in the vicinity of the Lilac Mall Hannaford.
Lucier, 60, was a longtime homeless person in the city who was much beloved by the homeless community.
Lucier was walking north along the Hannaford side of the road on June 2 around 10:20 p.m. when she was struck by Robinson's Ford F150 pickup, which was also headed north, according to police. She suffered a head injury and was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries on June 5.
Robinson remains free on on $5,000 unsecured bond.
Assistant County Attorney Joachim Barth on Friday said he was unable to comment on the settlement conference, but added that a jury trial is still scheduled to begin on July 8,
Robinson faces up to a three-and-a-half to seven-year prison sentence if found guilty.