SALEM, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Sean Higgins, the man accused of killing hockey star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew in a DUI accident last summer appeared in court Wednesday to determine whether police properly read him his Miranda rights on the scene of the crash.
The court heard from four state troopers who were on scene the night the Gaudreau brothers were struck and killed while riding their bikes last August.
Prosecutors showed body camera footage from the night of the crash in which defendant Sean Higgins described what happened, including confessing that he was the driver who struck the Gaudreau brothers.
He told investigators at the station he was distraught over a phone call with his mother and then spoke for a while with a woman he described as a close friend who his wife didn’t know about. Higgins said he did this all while driving around drinking beer in the car.
At one point during the questioning Higgins said he felt like he should probably have a lawyer. The defense said the conversation should have ended there, but he willingly continued without an attorney present.
Prosecutors counter that Higgins was read his rights at the scene and the police station and that he indicated he understood in both instances.
Judge Michael Silvanio told everyone to come back on Nov. 10 to continue the Miranda hearing.