The BMW driver accused of murdering four Pepperdine University sorority sisters who were hit at more than 100 mph in Malibu has been released again, this time after his bail was cut in half to $4 million.
Fraser Bohm, who has pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder in the deaths of seniors Peyton Stewart, Niamh Rolston, Asha Weir and Deslyn William, was released around 8:30 p.m. Friday, CBS News reported.
He was initially charged with felony vehicular manslaughter and released while investigators gathered additional evidence, including a toxicology report, speed analysis and execution of search warrants, after the deadly Oct. 17 crash.
The 22-year-old was arrested again on murder charges, and Los Angeles County Prosecutor George Gascón said he acted deliberately “with conscious disregard for human life.”
Bohm’s bail was initially set at $8 million, but Judge Eric Harmon cut it in half to $4 million.
Fraser Bohm was involved in a crash that killed four Pepperdine University students. Perfect game
Defense attorney Michael Kraut asked the judge to reduce bail to $400,000, arguing his client was a victim of road rage.
On Wednesday, Gascón told reporters that Bohm was “allegedly speeding at 104 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone when he lost control of his BMW,” and explained that the murder charges were filed because of “the speed, “reckless disregard for the safety of others.”
Authorities said Bohm swerved onto the north shoulder of westbound Pacific Coast Highway and crashed into at least three parked vehicles.
The parked vehicles struck the four students who were standing or walking nearby, authorities said.
Niamh Rolston was among four Pepperdine students gunned down on October 17. Instagram / @niamhrolston New York native Peyton Stewart would posthumously receive a diploma from the university. LinkedIn / Peyton Stewart
Kraut claimed there was no evidence to support the district attorney’s claim that Bohm was driving 104 mph.
“He used numbers like my client was going 104 miles per hour at the time of the accident. The evidence clearly shows that that did not happen,” Kraut told reporters Thursday.
The attorney said the top speed at the time of the crash was 70 mph based on witness statements, his client’s statement and the black box inside the BMW, according to CBS News.
Asha Weir was studying English at Pepperdine, where she also belonged to the Alpha Phi sorority. LinkedIn/Asha Weir Deslyn Williams, also a senior at Pepperdine, was hit and killed while she was walking with her friends. Instagram / @deslyn.williams
“If they had done their job, which is to listen to witnesses and test their credibility before running out and filing murder charges against a 22-year-old with no record, zero points, no speeding tickets and someone who has been totally law-abiding. , we wouldn’t be here on murder charges. There would be someone else here,” Kraut said.
“My customer was buying tacos for a friend. There were no drugs, no alcohol, nothing he had consumed, no smoking marijuana. “He picked up the tacos and headed north,” he added.
Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Jim Arens said he had “no evidence” that the crash was the result of an alleged road rage incident, as the accused driver’s attorney claims.
The attorney representing the man charged with murder in the deaths of four Pepperdine University students who were struck and killed along the Pacific Coast Highway last week said his client was being chased by another vehicle.KTLA
Bohm could face multiple life sentences if convicted of murder, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn