Sean Higgins, the man accused of causing the death of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, recently appeared in court in New Jersey. It was evident that Higgins was not pleased to learn that he would be spending his upcoming weekend in jail. During the virtual court appearance, Higgins faced two charges of death by auto after allegedly crashing his Jeep Grand Cherokee into the Gaudreau brothers while they were biking in Oldmans Township.
It was reported that Higgins appeared visibly upset during the hearing. He wore an anti-suicide smock and appeared dejected upon learning that he would be held in jail until at least the following Thursday. The judge informed Higgins that he was required to remain incarcerated due to a motion for pre-trial detention filed by prosecutors. Despite initially remaining quiet during the hearing, Higgins was later seen shaking his head in acknowledgment of the situation.
During the court appearance, Higgins expressed his intention to hire a private attorney to represent him in the case. Instructions were provided to him on how to proceed with this process from his cell. After confirming that he had no further questions, Higgins was excused from the proceedings. The tragic incident occurred just before the Gaudreau brothers were set to attend their sister’s wedding, which was ultimately canceled in light of the accident.
According to reports, Higgins confessed to consuming “5-6 beers” before the accident took place. The impact of this revelation adds another layer of tragedy to the situation, as it suggests that the incident could have been avoided if not for his alleged consumption of alcohol. Johnny Gaudreau, at 31 years old, and his younger brother Matthew, at 29, lost their lives in a devastating turn of events that have left many in shock.
In a time of grief and mourning for the Gaudreau family and the NHL community, the focus remains on seeking justice for the lives lost. The legal proceedings surrounding Sean Higgins will continue as the case unfolds, with many hoping for accountability and closure in the wake of this heartbreaking tragedy.