By AP/KWMU
Kansas City – Final arguments began Tuesday afternoon in Kansas City in the wrongful death lawsuit by the family of the late Governor Mel Carnahan.
The hearing has lasted two months, with mountains of evidence accumulating. The defendant in the Jackson County District Court case is aircraft parts maker Parker Hannifin of Cleveland, Ohio.
The Carnahans claim that two vacuum pumps made by Parker Hannifin failed, shutting off power to two instruments that show a plane's position in the air. The Ohio corporation contends that none of its equipment failed.
The crash in October of 2000 killed the former governor, his pilot son and a long-time aide. At the time, the Democratic leader was en route to a campaign appearance in New Madrid during his race for the U.S. Senate seat then held by Republican John Ashcroft.
The jury will begin deliberations Wednesday.