Jury Trial Scheduled for Drunk Driver Accused of Killing Angels’ Pitcher
A California jury is determining the fate of a drunk driver who killed a professional baseball player and two other individuals, according to the Associated Press.
The defendant, age 23, was drinking for several hours at three bars with his stepbrother, started driving, and ran a red light. He struck a car and killed Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two of the car’s three other occupants. The fourth occupant lived but has had severe medical problems due to a serious spinal injury. Following the crash, the defendant fled the scene on foot. Police found him two miles away, running beside a freeway.
Prosecutors charged the defendant with second-degree murder, a much harsher penalty than the related crime of manslaughter. The prosecutors claim they charged him with murder instead of manslaughter because he had a previous DUI conviction in 2005. At that time he signed a form in which he acknowledged that if he later drove drunk and killed someone, he could be charged with murder.
The defense pointed out there was some doubt as to whether the defendant or his stepbrother was driving the car at the time of the crash. The defense also presented witnesses who testified that individuals who have blackouts induced by alcohol often can’t understand right from wrong.
If convicted, the defendant could receive more than 50 years in prison. As this case illustrates, drinking and driving in California can have very serious legal consequences, ranging in severity from a DUI conviction to a murder conviction. If you are facing a Los Angeles DUI charge, contact the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf at (310) 277-1707. Our experienced Los Angeles drunk driving attorneys will help you navigate the criminal justice system.
