Sean Higgins, the man accused of causing the death of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, appeared in a New Jersey courtroom for the first time. Looking noticeably upset, Higgins faced two charges of death by auto after allegedly crashing his Jeep Grand Cherokee into the Gaudreau brothers while they were biking. Despite appearing virtually before a judge, Higgins seemed dejected upon learning that he would be spending his upcoming long weekend in jail.
The judge informed Higgins that he would be required to remain behind bars until at least the following Thursday due to a motion filed by prosecutors for his pre-trial detention. This decision was based on the statutes and court rules that mandated a minimum of 72 hours of detention before a hearing, extending his stay due to the weekend and a Monday holiday.
During the hearing, Higgins expressed his intention to hire a private attorney to represent him in the case. Given instructions on how to proceed with this process from his cell, Higgins was eventually excused from the proceedings after indicating that he had no further questions. It was evident that he was taking the situation seriously and planning his defense accordingly.
According to reports, Higgins admitted to consuming “5-6 beers” before the fatal accident. Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were in town to celebrate their sister’s wedding, tragically lost their lives in the incident. The wedding ceremony, which was scheduled for the following day, was canceled as a result of the heartbreaking turn of events. Johnny, aged 31, and Matthew, aged 29, were taken too soon in a senseless act that has left their family and friends devastated.
The courtroom appearance of Sean Higgins in connection with the deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of reckless behavior. The impact of this tragedy extends far beyond the courtroom walls, leaving a community in mourning and a family forever changed. As the legal proceedings unfold, the hope is that justice will be served for the lives lost and that steps will be taken to prevent such senseless losses in the future.
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