No new trial for convicted lawyer

A judge has denied a motion for a new trial in the case of a Killington lawyer convicted of hindering police investigating a traffic accident. Judge Thomas Zonay rejected Melvin B. Neisner's claim that the jury foreman in his case jeopardized his right to a fair trial by doing independent research about the word "hinder" while he was serving. Zonay said that wasn't grounds to find Luis Alvarez had acted inappropriately. Neisner, a former traffic court judge, was convicted last year of a felony count of hindering with a police investigation and misdemeanor counts of grossly negligent operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident and lying to police.