Sean Higgins, the man charged in the deaths of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, will stand trial this summer on the original charges in his indictment after a New Jersey judge denied his defense attorney’s contention that the brothers’ own drinking contributed to their deaths.
Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio made his ruling after two hours of arguments, upholding all charges against Higgins. The brothers, who were killed while cycling, had a blood-alcohol level of .129 or above when they were struck by Higgins’ vehicle while riding along the side of a road.
Witness testimony supported that the brothers were not riding recklessly. Higgins’ blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit in New Jersey and he faces charges of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide, evidence tampering, and leaving the scene of an accident. He admitted to police that he had been drinking that day.
Higgins pleaded not guilty in January and could face up to 70 years in prison if found guilty on all charges. His defense argued that the grand jury did not hear all the facts before approving charges. The trial is scheduled to begin this summer and Higgins is due back in court on June 10.
The case has garnered significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the victims, with the NHL star’s family seeking justice for their loss. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
