Trial for Saugus woman charged in fatal hit-and-run to start today

SALEM – Opening statements are expected today in the trial of a Saugus woman who police arrested almost exactly two years after she allegedly ran over an 81-year-old man crossing Central Street in Saugus and then left the victim to die.Steffany Barbanti was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of personal injury/death; in January 2012. She pleaded not guilty to the charge at her arraignment in Lynn District Court.A grand jury indicted Barbanti on the same charge March 29, 2012, according to a spokesman for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett. A jury for the trial was selected Monday afternoon in Salem Superior Court.Barbanti was arrested only a day shy of the two-year anniversary of the fatal hit-and-run, which occurred on Jan. 28, 2010.On that date, Christos Agganis, 81, died from serious head injuries a few hours after the car allegedly driven by Barbanti hit Agganis while he was crossing the street to the restaurant where he ate every day.Witnesses to the incident described the suspect’s vehicle as a dark SUV. But a January 2012 Fox25 News story about the upcoming anniversary resulted in an anonymous tip to police. The tipster told police Barbanti had said she was texting at the time of the accident and her car had been damaged.Police reported finding broken glass in Barbanti’s vehicle and a work order to replace the vehicle’s windshield shortly after the hit-and-run occurred.Barbanti went to a friend’s home after the accident and told the friend she had just hit somebody, according to that friend. The friend told police she begged Barbanti to return to the scene. But Barbanti allegedly refused because she said she was too scared.Barbanti’s attorney at her arraignment in 2012 said his client denied the charge, noting witnesses described the suspect vehicle as dark, but Barbanti drove a white SUV.