Drunk driver Sean Higgins, who killed Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, faced his court verdict this morning
Sean Higgins, accused of hitting and killing NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew while they were biking in South Jersey, has been ordered to remain in jail ahead of his trial.
A judge made the decision during a virtual court hearing on Friday, where attorneys discussed whether Higgins should stay in custody until further court proceedings.
Higgins, 43, from Woodstown, New Jersey, will stay at the Salem County Correctional Facility. The court considered the seriousness of the charges and concerns about whether Higgins would show up for future court appearances.
Salem County First Assistant Prosecutor Jonathan Flynn explained more about the events leading up to the crash. Flynn argued that Higgins acted with "impatience, anger, and recklessness" and should not be released.
Flynn revealed that, according to Higgins' wife, Higgins had been struggling while working from home, drinking regularly, and showing signs of road rage and impatience. On the day of the crash, Higgins reportedly finished work around 3 p.m., started drinking, and had an upsetting conversation about a family matter. Later, he had a long phone call with a friend while driving.
Higgins admitted to state police that he was drinking while driving during the incident.
Flynn argued that Higgins is a danger to the community, as his aggressive driving and drinking habits pose a threat. He added that there were no conditions the court could impose that would prevent another tragedy like this from happening again.
Judge Michael Silvanio agreed, citing concerns about Higgins' driving and his mental state, including the fact that Higgins had been placed on suicide watch while in jail. Higgins' defense attorney, Matthew Portella, had argued for his release before the trial, but the judge ruled against it.
Credit: CBS NewsSean Higgins ordered to stay in jail before trial in crash that killed Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau
| POLL | ||
13 SEPTEMBRE | 167 ANSWERS Drunk driver Sean Higgins, who killed Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, faced his court verdict this morning Do you think Sean Higgins deserves to stay in jail for life? | ||
| Yes | 127 | 76 % |
| No | 40 | 24 % |
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