CA - 4 Pepperdine students killed in crash, Malibu, Oct 2023 *arrest*

[ifindedout]

Released on $4M bond on Friday, Oct. 27, but there's more than that in this particular article:

Driver charged with murder of 4 Pepperdine University students on PCH in Malibu out on bond

A 22-year-old driver facing four counts of murder after the vehicle he was driving earlier this month hit and killed four Pepperdine University students on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu…

ktla.com

Michael Kraut, the defense attorney for Fraser Bohm, claimed that the 22-year-old was involved in a road rage incident that began at Duke’s Malibu, the famous bar and restaurant located on PCH about three miles west of the deadly crash site.

Kraut said security footage has been located that corroborates those claims, even going so far as to say they’ve identified the driver of the other vehicle and that authorities have arrested the wrong person.

“We’ve actually been able to track down who this person is, and the person who admitted to a family member that they did drive him off the road,” Kraut said.

 

[Keane]

Great, let's get the other guy (too). MOO.

 

[PrairieWind]

I have only read the one article. I guess I am a bit confused on what it is the kid's attorney is claiming happened here.

 

[mickey2942]

I have only read the one article. I guess I am a bit confused on what it is the kid's attorney is claiming happened here.

It sounds like he wants to blame the other person for the accident. That the wrong person was arrested. Good luck. Of course, that is what an aggressive attorney is going to do, make a defense for their client.

I don't think that is going to work here.

 

[PrairieWind]

It sounds like he wants to blame the other person for the accident. That the wrong person was arrested. Good luck. Of course, that is what an aggressive attorney is going to do, make a defense for their client.

I don't think that is going to work here.

I wasn't clear if he is claiming that someone else hit the girls or if he is saying someone forced his client into the girls, or that his client was fleeing someone when he hit the girls.

 

[mickey2942]

https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/18/us/pacific-coast-highway-malibu-deaths-safety/index.html

 

[10ofRods]

I'm guessing the defense will leave it as vague as possible. In any case, speeding up to evade a road rager is still illegal in California. Better to slow down and use the emergency function of one's cell phone. It's not as if it's impossible to pull off PCH in that section. Of course, it's also a well known drag racing segment, so the prosecution may have witnesses of its own.

Book 'em both! Exactly the kind of thing that a jury should be given to figure out. But I suspect that this defense attorney wants to get rid of first degree murder with enhancements (speeding and reckless endangerment). Wants it to go all the way down to involuntary manslaughter, I'm sure.

IMO

 

[mickey2942]

I thought the trial date was set for January, 2025. I haven't seen anything about this since last update in November, 2024.

Preliminary Hearing Setting to Continue in December - Pepperdine Graphic

The L.A. County Superior Court will continue the preliminary hearing setting Dec. 11 at the Van Nuys Courthouse West. This will be the fourth time the court has met since August.

pepperdine-graphic.com

 

[JoeFromLB]

Preliminary hearing began Monday. Finally. A judge will decide if Bohm will be bound over for trial.
Malibu crash: Hearing continues for driver accused of killing 4 Pepperdine students on PCH

 

[KMouse]

Alan Jackson is the new legal representation for Fraser Bohm:

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students - SM Mirror

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...

smmirror.com

 

[mickey2942]

Alan Jackson is the new legal representation for Fraser Bohm:

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students - SM Mirror

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...

smmirror.com

Of course, change attorneys, or in other words, just keep rearranging the deck chairs.

 

[10ofRods]

Thank you for the update, Mickey. Lots more information and facts than in the initial reports.

 

[Izzylizzy]

It sounds like he wants to blame the other person for the accident. That the wrong person was arrested. Good luck. Of course, that is what an aggressive attorney is going to do, make a defense for their client.

I don't think that is going to work here.

Bohm’s attorney, Michael Kraut, says that he was only traveling 70 MPH and responding to an incident of road rage, getting away from a guy chasing him.

"So, he was street racing. Got it. Solid defense."




"They were killed because of the driving of the defendant," the prosecutor said, noting that data retrieved from a device in Bohm's BMW indicated that the vehicle accelerated from 93 mph to 104 mph just 2 1/2 seconds before the first of three impacts were detected.'

Bohm said he had to swerve after "some guy" in a white car swerved into his lane and struck his driver's side mirror, resulting in him slamming into the first of the three parked vehicles.

The prosecutor told the judge that the female driver of a white Honda Civic who reported that she saw a car "going really fast" indicated that she never made contact with the BMW before seeing it hit the first parked vehicle. Photos of the Civic showed no apparent damage to it.

The defense attorney countered that a road-rage incident "does not have to be a high-speed chase," referring to another motorist whom he called "aggressive" in attempting to confront Bohm about his driving while they were at a traffic light before the crash.

That driver, Victor Calandra, testified Monday that he saw a vehicle driving erratically, moving from lane to lane and swerving, before he and Bohm wound up next to each other at a traffic light.'

Driver ordered to stand trial in PCH crash that killed 4 Pepperdine students​

A 23-year-old man was ordered to stand trial in connection with a crash on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu in 2023 that killed four Pepperdine University sorority sisters.

abc7.com

 

[Izzylizzy]

"Jackson was born in Texas. He served in the United States Air Force for four years from 1983 to 1987 as a jet engine mechanic.

He attended the University of Texas at Austin, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1991.

He went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1994.

href="Alan Jackson (lawyer) - Wikipedia"><span>[</span></a>

Alan Jackson (lawyer) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Izzylizzy]

snip

Six witnesses took the stand and more than 17 pieces of evidence were displayed over the course of eight hours April 28.

Victor Calandra, a Malibu residentof 35 years that testified to driving alongside Bohm on Oct. 17, took the stand for the most amount of time on Monday. Security camera footage from PCH showed Calandra’s blue 2016 GMC 2500 pickup truck driving in close proximity to Bohm minutes before the crash.

Calandra said although he was around 100 yards behind, he noticed Bohm’s BMW driving erratically and swerving on PCH just beyond Sunset Boulevard toward Topanga. Calandra was able to catch up to the erratic vehicle at the Las Flores Canyon stoplight.

At this light, Calandra said he noticed Bohm had his cellphone between his legs under the steering wheel and was moving his thumbs, possibly texting. Calandra rolled down his window and tried to get Bohm’s attention as he testified saying, “Hey, you need to be careful. You’re going to hurt yourself.”

Calandra said there was no response from Bohm, and when the Las Flores light turned green, the BMW took off with “extreme acceleration.”

Due to this speeding, Calandra said he came upon the crash scene seconds later and saw the aftermath of the collision. Calandra pulled over upon seeing multiple cars involved. As he walked past the impacted vehicles, Calandra said he saw the effects of the crash, including victims.

When he arrived at Bohm’s car, Calandra testified to grabbing Bohm’s arm and walking him over to a home with a 1 to 2 foot embankment for him to sit on while they waited for authorities to arrive. Calandra testified to using a louder voice with more forceful words in an attempt to get Bohm’s attention, who was described as seemingly “discombobulated.”

Kraut said his client was a victim of road rage. During cross-examination of Calandra, Kraut catered many of his questions to Calandra’s past driving history with road rage incidents and tone of voice when speaking to Bohm on Oct. 17.

Miguel Cruchinho, the final witness to take the stand Monday, testified with similarities to Calandra’s recollection. Cruchinho said he was stopped at a light with Bohm, who was not pulled up to the limit line all the way despite having nobody in front of him.

Cruchino testified that he saw the dark BMW accelerate, veer between lanes, and swerve around other vehicles. Due to the speed of theBMW, Cruchino said he arrived at the crash site within two to three minutes, initially seeing skid marks and smoke.'

Fraser Bohm Ordered to Stand Trial for Oct. 2023 PCH Crash - Pepperdine Graphic​

The preliminary trial of Fraser Michael Bohm took place in the Van Nuys Courthouse on April 28. Over the course of three days, multiple witnesses took the stand paired with the presentation of many pieces of evidence, ending with Bohm ordered to stand trial beginning July 1.

pepperdine-graphic.com

 

[Izzylizzy]

After the KR verdict did Bohm's parents contact AJ thinking that he could prove with help from "Dr. Daniel Wolfe, ARCCA accident reconstruction expert" that Fraser wasn't traveling 104 mph or even 70 mph claimed by his previous lawyer Michael Kraut who referenced a witness's testimony and that he was being chased by the truck driver who warned FB at the traffic light that he was going to hurt himself?
Is AJ planning on convincing a jury that all the witnesses who've testified to FB's erratic and speeding driving before hitting and killing the 4 young women is a false memory?
I see this case and KR's case as apples and oranges.
IMO

 

[Izzylizzy]

Will this be AJ's first motion?
FB's attorney at the time Michael Kurtz failed at it.
Will AJ try to get the 4 murder charges dismissed before FB is arraigned?

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students - SM Mirror

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...

smmirror.com

Motion to Dismiss Murder Charges in PCH Crash Denied - Pepperdine Graphic

The motion to dismiss the four counts of murder against Fraser Michael Bohm in connection with the October 2023 PCH crash was denied March 17. The case, which involves the deaths of four Pepperdine students, is scheduled for a new hearing April 28.

pepperdine-graphic.com

​

 

[mickey2942]

These folks with their fancy expensive cars, like Rebecca Grossman, in her Mercedes-Benz. That not only documented the speed she was going, but also the engine cut out on impact, she was still trying to start car and get away! The fuel line shuts down on impact, to reduce chance of fuel ignition.

Here, a BMW that costs more than what I take home in a year, documented the speed he was traveling and even the history of speed. LOL.

These people really need to be driving a 2005 Toyota Camry. LOL. No fancy computer that documents anything.

This will be interesting to watch, and see what he gets. Rebecca Grossman, just down the road, got 15 years for killing two children. I wonder what FB will do? They are basically doing the exact same playbook from RG's trial, first try to dismiss everything. Nope.

4 million dollar bail. That is a lot of money to have lying around. Affluence...

 

[waldojabba]

Families of four California sorority sisters killed in crash on infamous ‘dead man’s curve’ sue state

The families of four sorority sisters struck and killed on California’s Pacific Coast Highway are suing the state and local governments over a notorious death trap locals call “Dead Man’s Cur…

nypost.com

This article has a picture of the location where the four girls and one guy were killed and injured by Fraser Bohm

Evidently their families are suing the state and local governments. I imagine they will also eventually sue FB in civil court

"The families of four sorority sisters struck and killed on California’s Pacific Coast Highway are suing the state and local governments over a notorious death trap locals call “Dead Man’s Curve.”

Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams — students of Pepperdine University and fellow sorority sisters — were walking along a stretch of beachside roadway in Malibu when a driver careened into the shoulder, killing the girls and injuring another student in October 2023.

.............

Kramer said authorities were well aware of the carnage.

In 2015, the Malibu City Council approved a plan that called for 130 improvements to the Pacific Coast Highway, but to date only seven of those measures have been completed — despite more than $28 million having been sunk into the projects, according to records presented in the suits.

“They did nothing to protect pedestrians from known speeders that traveled that roadway and had caused numerous deaths and injuries,” Kramer said.
......
Solloa and the other plaintiffs do blame Bohm for his actions, Kramer added, but their lawsuits are aiming to help make Dead Man’s Curve safer for everyone."

https://www.21milesinmalibu.com/post/how-malibu-s-infamous-dead-man-s-curve-has-seen-tragedy-after-tragedyca

ABOUT | 21 MILES IN MALIBU

www.21milesinmalibu.com

This is a film about the PCH

It's not easy making a film about a road. But this is no ordinary road. If the film speaks to you, I encourage you to explore ways to take action to make this highway, and all others, a little safer.​

- Nic Davis​

Director 21 Miles in Malibu ​

ABOUT | 21 MILES IN MALIBU

www.21milesinmalibu.com

JMO

 

[JoeFromLB]

Fraser Bohm has pleaded not guilty and hired a celebrity lawyer. Alan Jackson, who recently represented Karen Read in her 2nd trial. She was acquitted of running over her ex-husband.

https://ktla.com/news/california/dr...s-pleads-not-guilty-hires-celebrity-attorney/