A New Jersey man, Sean Higgins, is facing serious charges following a fatal incident involving NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother. The event occurred the night before the wedding of their sister.
In court on Monday, Higgins’ legal team attempted to have his statements to police dismissed. They claimed that officers failed to properly inform him of his rights and didn’t adequately address his question about needing a lawyer. However, the judge did not rule in favor of this argument.
Higgins, aged 44, is charged with vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter, and other related offenses following the tragic accident on August 29, 2024.
Reports indicate that after the crash, Higgins exclaimed, “I hit him, I hit him,” and acknowledged consuming “five or six drinks” before colliding with Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, who was also a hockey player and aspiring coach. They were biking home from a wedding rehearsal dinner when the accident happened.
Higgins’ attorney argued, as reported by NJ.com, that law enforcement had enough information to charge him before speaking to him and should have provided him with his Miranda rights at the scene.
Furthermore, the defense mentioned that when Higgins was reviewing his phone records at the police station, he inquired about whether he should contact a lawyer.
In contrast, Salem County prosecutors stated that Higgins was informed of his rights both at the scene and at the station, and he consented to speak each time. This was supported by video evidence presented in court.
Judge Michael Silvanio determined that Higgins’ statements would be admissible during the trial, explaining that the initial questioning focused on clarifying the incident, and Higgins hadn’t explicitly requested a lawyer at the police station.
Higgins has encountered several setbacks leading up to his trial, including an earlier ruling that denied his request to suppress evidence obtained from his vehicle.
Additionally, his attorney argued against the severity of the charges, claiming that the Gaudreau brothers had been more intoxicated at the time of the incident.
It is reported that Higgins veered to pass two vehicles slowing down for the victims, who were riding single-file on their bicycles, before the collision occurred.
