The New Jersey man suspected of driving drunk within the crash that killed Columbus Blue Jackets ahead Johnny Gaudreau and his youthful brother pleaded not responsible to 6 fees on Tuesday.
Sean Higgins, 44, entered the plea at a listening to in Salem County, N.J., the place the brothers had been using bikes on the night of Aug. 29 after they had been struck and killed. Higgins, who has been in custody since his arrest, additionally rejected a plea deal that will have despatched him to jail for 35 years.
The fees he faces embrace reckless vehicular murder and aggravated manslaughter. If convicted, he may resist 30 years in jail for every of the vehicular manslaughter counts alone.
Higgins is alleged to have hit Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, as he drove his Jeep to the proper of the automotive in entrance of him in an try and go it alongside a rural street in Oldsman Township. The brothers had been declared useless on the scene.
In courtroom Tuesday throughout the temporary listening to had been the Gaudreaus’ dad and mom and sisters. The boys had been on the town to function groomsmen within the marriage ceremony of their youngest sister, Katie, the next day. The marriage was postponed till this upcoming summer time.
Simply after Christmas, Madeline Gaudreau — Matthew’s widow — introduced the start of their first youngster, Tripp Matthew Gaudreau. Johnny’s widow, Meredith, introduced on the brothers’ funeral that she is anticipating their third youngster.
The following listening to within the case was scheduled for Feb. 4, at which level Higgins’ lawyer is anticipated to maneuver to dismiss a few of the fees and ban some proof from trial. Higgins will stay in custody.
–Discipline Degree Media
