Concord teen denies manslaughter charges COURTS

Stoorai Nuri, widow of Solaiman Nuri and mother of Hadessa Nuri, who were run down and killed in Concord last April, leaves Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez with her brother, Emal Karzai. They had attended the Aug. 24, 2012 arraignment of a 17-year-old accused of vehicular manslaughter in the deaths. less Stoorai Nuri, widow of Solaiman Nuri and mother of Hadessa Nuri, who were run down and killed in Concord last April, leaves Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez with her brother, Emal Karzai. They had ... more Photo: Henry K. Lee, The Chronicle Photo: Henry K. Lee, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Concord teen denies manslaughter charges 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A Contra Costa County judge ordered a 17-year-old boy not to drive anything "other than a lawn mower" Friday after the teen pleaded not guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter charges for the deaths of a father and daughter riding their bicycles in Concord.

Although Juvenile Court Judge Lois Haight said she believed the boy was a "dangerous person," she allowed him to go home with his parents in Concord after entering his pleas.

The boy was released from custody days after his arrest in April when prosecutors delayed filing charges. The Chronicle is not identifying the youth because he is a minor.

Solaiman Nuri, 41, and his 9-year-old daughter Hadessa were hit and killed April 7 by a Cadillac Escalade as they rode their bikes on the sidewalk along Treat Boulevard near Oak Grove Road. Another daughter, 12-year-old Hannah, suffered minor injuries.

Authorities said the boy was speeding in a 45-mph zone and had made an unsafe lane change moments before the 9:30 a.m. crash. There were no signs that the boy was under the influence of drugs or alcohol or was texting, investigators said.

Haight told the boy Friday "not to drive anything with a motor, other than a lawn mower" and not to possess drugs, alcohol or weapons.

The judge also grilled his parents, who said their son had a 10 p.m. curfew and was abiding by all their rules.

Prosecutors filed charges of felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and misdemeanor reckless driving causing bodily injury. In an unrelated case arising more than a week before the crash, the boy is facing misdemeanor charges for possessing alcoholic beverages and carrying a switchblade knife in Walnut Creek.

In court Friday, the boy sat next to his attorney, who entered not guilty pleas on his behalf.

Nuri's widow, Stoorai Nuri, and other relatives wept in a Martinez courtroom as Haight read the charges and the victims' names.

After the hearing, Stoorai Nuri sobbed uncontrollably. "I just want justice," she said, adding she was unhappy that prosecutors did not charge the boy as an adult. Senior Deputy District Attorney Dan Cabral said the youth, if convicted, could be placed in a locked facility until he is 21.