Lawyers for Man Charged in Deaths of Gaudreaus Seek Dismissal
The man accused of being drunk when his car struck and killed NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew as they biked near their South Jersey hometown appeared in court on Tuesday for a pre-trial conference where his attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case.
Request for Bloodwork and Photographic Evidence
During the brief court appearance, attorneys for Sean Higgins, who is charged with vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter, and related offenses, also requested additional reports on bloodwork and photographic evidence in the case from prosecutors.
Michael Mestern, of the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office, agreed to share the information and asked Higgins’ attorneys for a grand jury transcript from them.
Motion for Blood Evidence
Higgins’ attorneys filed a motion seeking information on how the blood evidence was collected, citing a recent court filing that claims the Gaudreau brothers were found to have higher blood alcohol concentrations than Higgins at the time of the fatal crash.
The motion seeks to challenge the blood evidence, which showed Higgins had a blood alcohol content of 0.087% at the time of the crash, just above the legal limit.
Motion to Dismiss
Higgins’ attorneys also filed a motion to dismiss the case, citing a "failure to present exculpatory evidence" to a grand jury in this case.
Court Appearance
Dressed in green prison garb, with his hands shackled in front of his waist, Higgins stood silently throughout the court appearance, flanked by his attorneys Matthew Portella and Richard Klineburger.
Background of the Case
Higgins has been charged in the deaths of the NHL star and his brother as they rode bikes together on the night before their sister’s planned wedding. The incident occurred on August 29, 2024, at 8:19 p.m., when the Gaudreau brothers were struck and killed by Higgins’ car on County Route 551 in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.
Next Court Date
Higgins is next expected to appear in court on March 26.
Conclusion
The case against Sean Higgins, accused of vehicular homicide and related offenses, is ongoing, with his attorneys seeking to have the charges dismissed. The Gaudreau family and the hockey community are still mourning the loss of the two brothers, who were killed in a tragic accident.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the charge against Sean Higgins?
- Vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter, and related offenses
- What is the claim against Higgins?
- That he was drunk when his car struck and killed the Gaudreau brothers
- What is the current status of the case?
- The case is ongoing, with Higgins’ attorneys seeking to have the charges dismissed
- When is Higgins’ next court date?
- March 26
