When and if Frederick D. Russell’s vehicular homicide case reaches the sentencing phase, he will probably throw himself on the mercy of the court and utter words of regret and remorse to the families of the dead and injured. If those words sound empty, it will be because his actions over the past six years belie them.

We’re not in the habit of pronouncing guilt before trials, and we’re not going to start now, but this is a man who has done nothing but act guilty and dodge responsibility ever since the night of June 4, 2001. That, prosecutors say, is when a drunken Russell was driving at speeds of up to 90 mph and smashed his vehicle into a car carrying seven college students. The wreck left three dead and eight others injured – two have permanent disabilities.

Four days later, Russell professed his innocence. Four months later, just before a court hearing, he fled the country. Ever since, the families of the victims have been tortured with the waiting and the headlines, none of which read, “Russell accepts responsibility.”

It’s been six years since that tragic night, and Russell again faces a trial. But he remains determined to dodge culpability. His defense strategy appears to center on getting the case tossed over technical errors. Russell’s attorney is doing his job, which is to defend his client as vigorously as possible. In doing so, he has lobbed multiple charges, saying the state destroyed blood samples that could prove Russell was not intoxicated and that it overreached its authority in obtaining Russell’s medical records.

In complaining about the allegedly missing blood samples, Russell’s attorney wrote, “This conduct is at least grossly negligent.”

That comment must especially sting for the families of Brandon Clements, Stacy G. Morrow and Ryan Sorensen, who were killed in the crash in which Russell was said to be driving 90 mph and passing in a no-passing zone.

Our legal system affords defendants a trial by jury, but Russell could end this nightmarish limbo now if he wanted. Sadly, that doesn’t look likely for a man who fled the country, fought extradition, sought political asylum in Ireland and continues to do everything he can to delay his day of reckoning.

The fugitive Russell once sent a letter to The Spokesman-Review explaining his flight. The closest he came to remorse was saying he would take the place of the victims if he could. In response, Stacy Morrow’s father, Rob, replied with wisdom:

“You say you wish you could ‘switch places’ with the victims. Well, you can’t do that. What you can do is honor them and yourself by facing the justice that is due in this whole sorry mess.”

It isn’t likely that Russell will break his six-year habit of inflicting pain by avoiding the truth, and that’s what should resonate with the judge and victims’ families if Russell finally musters a hollow “I’m sorry.”