On June 8, 2002, Carla Redding's cruiser was traveling up to 70 mph when it sliced through a car carrying four people, killing 19-year-old Malarie Hilton and injuring three women.

Redding was responding to a detective's call for backup at the Coconut Point dance club and was eastbound on 5415 South without her emergency lights or siren on, according to the ruling.

When the detective asked officers to "step it up a little bit," Redding sped up.

Heading westbound, Emily Hillam turned left into Redding's path. The cruiser slammed into Hillam's vehicle with enough force to rip it in two, the ruling states.

"The two backseat passengers were thrown from the car with one suffering scrapes and bruises and the other dying as a result of injuries sustained in the accident," according to the ruling.

Nearly a year later, Redding was charged with three misdemeanors, including negligent homicide, negligent collision and speeding. A 3rd District Court jury convicted her on all charges June 25, 2004, and she was sentenced to probation, 10 days in jail, a fine and restitution.

Two months later, Redding asked the judge for a new trial, alleging several instances of jury misconduct, a lack of evidence to support the charges and improper comments made during the prosecutor's closing arguments.

ngonzalez@sltrib.com