New Jersey judge dismisses defense contention the Gaudreau brothers’ drinking contributed to their deaths

Sean Higgins, the antheral charged successful the deaths of NHL prima Johnny Gaudreau and his member Matthew, volition basal proceedings this summertime connected the archetypal charges successful his indictment aft a New Jersey justice denied his defence attorney's contention that the brothers' ain drinking contributed to their deaths. 

Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio made his ruling successful tribunal Tuesday aft astir 2 hours of arguments, yet deciding each charges against Higgins would beryllium upheld. 

Sean M. Higgins, the operator charged with sidesplitting NHL hockey subordinate Johnny Gaudreau and his member Matthew portion they were bicycling, sits successful the Salem County, N.J., Courthouse April 15, 2025, successful Salem, N.J.  (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

"There’s nary credence successful the statement determination was contributory negligence connected the portion of the cyclists," Silvanio said.

Assistant Prosecutor Michael Mestern added during the proceeding the defense’s statement was "a scope to accidental the least." 

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According to tribunal records, Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau some had a blood-alcohol level of .129 oregon supra erstwhile they were riding their bicycles on the broadside of a roadworthy Aug. 29 connected the eve of their sister's wedding. 

They were killed erstwhile Higgins allegedly struck them with his conveyance portion attempting to walk a conveyance connected the close side. But witnesser grounds supported that the brothers were not riding the bicycles recklessly.

"There are 4 witnesses that witnessed the suspect speeding and illegally passing the Bronco connected the close erstwhile helium struck the brothers. The witnesses besides saw the brothers riding azygous file, with the travel of traffic, connected the fog enactment conscionable anterior to being struck by the defendant," Mestern wrote successful a memo this month. 

Guy Gaudreau, begetter of NHL subordinate Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau, walks successful the region courthouse successful Salem, N.J., Tuesday, April 15, 2025.  (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

He was charged with 2 counts of aggravated manslaughter, 2 counts of vehicular homicide, grounds tampering and leaving the country of an accident. He besides admitted to constabulary that helium had been drinking that day, including portion helium was driving. 

Higgins’ attorneys said the question was not to spot blasted connected the brothers and argued that the expansive assemblage did not perceive each the facts earlier it approved charges. 

Sean M. Higgins, the operator charged with sidesplitting NHL hockey subordinate Johnny Gaudreau and his member Matthew portion they were bicycling, appears astatine the Salem County, N.J., Courthouse, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, successful Salem, N.J.  (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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Higgins pleaded not blameworthy successful January and could look up to 70 years successful situation if recovered blameworthy connected each charges. He is owed backmost successful tribunal June 10. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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