A new development in the case of beloved hockey star Johnny Gaudreau’s death could change everything about the ongoing legal proceedings.
Sean Higgins is accused of hitting and killing the seven-time NHL All-Star, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, with his car while they were riding their bikes on a road in New Jersey in 2024. At the time, Higgins admitted to drinking that day and took a blood test, which police said indicated a blood alcohol content of .087.
“It seems that it was plasma that was tested, not whole blood,” Higgins’ attorney, Richard Klineburger, claimed in court on Tuesday, February 24. “Based upon our expert report, that brings the actual BAC reading down to .075.”
The legal limit is .08, meaning the expert believes he was not drunk driving at the time of the accident.
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The original result may have “impacted the grand jury,” argued Klineberger, who is seeking to have the charges, including first-degree aggravated manslaughter, reckless vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a fatal accident and tampering with physical evidence, against Higgins dismissed in light of this new evidence, the New York Post reported.
Currently, if convicted, Higgins faces up to 70 years in prison.
As Globe previously reported, the brothers were in their hometown of Oldsmans Township, New Jersey in August 2024 to attend their sister’s wedding when the crash occurred.
Johnny, who played for the Calgary Flames and the Columbus Blue Jackets, left behind daughter Noa, 2, son Johnny, 18 months, with his wife, Meredith, who gave birth to their second son, Carter, in April.
Matthew’s wife, Madeline, gave birth to their son, Tripp, four months after he died.
This story Man Accused of Killing Johnny Gaudreau Seeks to Have Charges Dropped Amid New Test Results first appeared on Globe. Add Globe as a Preferred Source by clicking here.