LOS ANGELES — A California decide refused to decrease bail for the out-of-control BMW driver accused of killing 4 Pepperdine College college students, saying it isn’t the courtroom’s job to assist him pay for his high-profile lawyer — who just lately acquired Karen Learn acquitted in a surprising verdict.
Fraser Bohm, 23, faces homicide and vehicular manslaughter fees for allegedly fatally mowing down sorority sisters Niamh Rolston, 20, Peyton Stewart, 21, Asha Weir, 21, and Deslyn Williams, 21, whereas doing over 100 mph in Malibu in 2023.
Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom Decide Thomas Rubinson shot down a request from Alan Jackson — the hotshot LA lawyer who’s defended Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, and most just lately Learn — to chop Bohm’s bail from $4 million to $2 million.
Jackson, whom the household employed in June, claimed the household offered their residence and “drained all their retirement” to pay for Bohm’s protection.
He mentioned the bond firm has frozen collateral from the house sale, thus the household received’t be capable of fund the evidence-gathering and knowledgeable testimony wanted to show the crash was a “horrible accident” and never a criminal offense.
However Rubinson identified that Bohm’s bail had already been lowered from an preliminary quantity of $8 million — $2 million for every homicide cost — and mentioned the household is welcome to make use of free, public protection if they’re as penniless as they declare to be.
He mentioned shelling out for personal counsel and star knowledgeable witnesses was a luxurious, not a proper.
“Imagine me once I say … there are various, many defendants sitting within the county jail proper now who would love me to scale back their bail to allow them to rent Alan Jackson or different non-public counsel. That’s not the best way it really works,” Rubinson mentioned.
Tracy Rolston, whose daughter Niamh was killed within the crash, was current for the listening to and praised the courtroom for conserving the bail at $4 million.
“We’re comfortable it’s not decrease. It’s been two years, and we’re simply ready for some justice to be served,” she instructed The Put up.
Escorting Bohm out of the courthouse, Jackson mentioned the decide’s determination wouldn’t deter the protection and that his group is “wanting ahead to our second … to get the reality out.”
Jackson is recent off his June victory of getting Learn acquitted of fees she drunkenly mowed down her Boston cop boyfriend in 2022 — a case that captivated the nation.
Prosecutors say Bohm was careening at 104 miles per hour down a notoriously harmful stretch of the Pacific Coast Freeway when he misplaced management and slammed his BMW into the 4 school college students, who had been strolling residence from an evening in town.
He pleaded not responsible to 4 homicide counts final month after his former lawyer claimed video proof exhibits he had been chased by one other driver in a match of street rage.
Nevertheless, the LA County District Legal professional’s Workplace maintained that it doesn’t have proof to help the street rage declare.
Bohm’s subsequent listening to is Oct. 8.
