Legal analyst surprised by outcome

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - News 4 legal analyst and former Erie County DA Frank Clark saw the not guilty verdicts for Dr. James Corasanti coming before the jury rendered their decision.

The Amherst doctor was found not guilty on all five counts and guilty of common law DWI. The jury was deadlocked over statutory DWI. What's the difference?

Clark explained, "What they hung on was the over .08 intoxication. They are two different things. One is common law and the other is statutory over .08."

That means that jurors agreed that Dr. Corasanti was drunk, but didn't think the blood alcohol test was reliable and felt there was reasonable doubt. Clark says many may be outraged by the jury's decision.

More on the conclusion of the trial:

>> Find full details of the jury's decision here

>> Hear reaction from prosecutors, who say the jury must have bought Corasanti's testimon y

>> See reaction from Corasanti's defense team

>> The community gathered at Alix Rice's memorial after the decision

>> The courtroom let out an audible gasp as "not guilty" was read

"People are going to see this as two things: if you have a lot of money you get off and if you leave the scene you get off. Or three, the system doesn't work. And that's the great tragedy here," Clark said.

The former DA says he was dumbfounded there wasn't a guilty verdict in the vehicular manslaughter charge.

Clark said, "The fact that there wasn't surprises me and I think surprises a lot of people in the community and no doubt saddens a lot of people, including me. But I accept it as a product of the system."

And he says western New Yorkers shouldn't lose faith in the system.

"Just because I disagree doesn't mean that I am right and the other side is wrong - it just means that I have a different opinion. But the only opinion that counts is the jury's," concluded Clark.