A 29-year-old South Florida man has been charged with DUI Manslaughter after allegedly killing a pedestrian in an early morning hit-and-run. A witness related that she saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed when it struck a woman who was crossing the street. A surveillance camera is said to have captured the incident. She said she tried to flag the driver down, but the vehicle just kept going. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene with her body severed in half. The alleged driver is being held on $150,000 bond. At the scene of his traffic stop, the driver of the suspected vehicle denied knowing he was involved in an accident with a pedestrian. Police reported that his windshield was broken, and blood was found on the front end of his vehicle.
DUI Manslaughter is a homicide case. It’s the most serious of the DUI offenses. The offense is a second degree felony, punishable by a mandatory minimum of four years and up to 15 years in prison, along with a fine not to exceed $10,000. Given the publicity surrounding the case coupled with its factual basis, the driver will need an experienced and skilled Miami criminal defense lawyer. A thorough investigation needs to be started as soon as possible. Amongst other things, the prosecution must prove that the man in custody was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the occurrence, and that he willfully failed to remain at the scene.
Given the facts of this case as presented along with the surveillance camera footage, the alleged driver requires a South Florida criminal defense lawyer with fluency in DUI law and significant experience in negotiation and sentencing. Although he’s presumed innocent, the facts and evidence in this case don’t appear to weigh in his favor. Fort Lauderdale defense attorney Kenneth P. Hassett not only possesses, but surpasses the necessary knowledge and experience for a complex criminal case of this nature. He fully considers and investigates each plausible defense to a prosecution while maintaining his client’s innocence. No stone is left unturned.
If you or somebody close to you has been involved in a similar situation or charged with a DUI, call our firm at (954) 791-3939. The consultation is free, and anything said in our offices stays there. People deserve the best possible defense.
