The city of Philadelphia After declining the prosecution’s offer of 35 years in jail, the motorist accused of killing NHL hockey star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew while they were cycling on a rural New Jersey road entered a not guilty plea to the indictment on Tuesday.
Sean M. Higgins, 44, made a brief court appearance in Salem County, New Jersey, and formally pleaded guilty to the recent charge in the fatalities that occurred on August 29. The matter will now proceed to trial.
In a statement, defense attorneys said they intend to demonstrate that the deaths were caused by a confluence of extremely regrettable events that are unlikely to happen again rather than by any wrongdoing.
Higgins, they said, is a combat veteran who believes in the justice system.
The married father of two, who worked at an addiction treatment center, was accused by the prosecution of having a history of road rage and of being intoxicated that day after consuming five or six beers. He claimed that following a distressing meeting with his mother, he had been driving about for two hours, occasionally speaking on the phone with a buddy.
On the eve of their sister’s wedding, Johnny Gaudreau, age 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, age 29, were murdered close to the South Jersey home where they grew up.
Police were informed that Higgins had been driving aggressively by a motorist in front of him. She claimed that Higgins sped up and turned right, hitting the Gaudreaus, as she and another motorist slowed and shifted to the left to avoid the bicycles.
According to police, Higgins failed a field sobriety test and had a blood alcohol level of.087, which is more than the state’s legal limit of.08.
He is being jailed on allegations of abandoning the scene of an accident, tampering with evidence, and two counts of vehicular murder and aggravated manslaughter.
Matthew Portella, the defense attorney, has described Higgins as a kind man and a devoted parent who made a terrible choice that evening.
The provisions of the planned agreement were confirmed by Portella and the county prosecutors.
Known as Johnny Hockey, Johnny Gaudreau spent ten complete seasons in the NHL and was about to begin his third with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Calgary Flames were his team for the first eight seasons.
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