A suspect accused in the deaths of former NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother has pleaded not guilty to all charges stemming from the fatal crash. The 44-year-old suspect appeared at an arraignment hearing in Salem County, New Jersey, where his attorneys entered the not-guilty plea on his behalf.
Last month, the suspect was indicted with two counts of reckless vehicular homicide, two counts of aggravated manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. If convicted, the suspect could face up to 30 years in prison for each of the aggravated manslaughter charges.
During the hearing, the state offered the suspect a sentence of 35 years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea to the aggravated manslaughter charges and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. The defense plans to submit a motion to challenge certain counts on the indictment, with the next court date set for February 4.
The suspect is accused of fatally striking the brothers as they rode bikes on a New Jersey roadway on August 29. The suspect was driving while intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit at the time of the crash.
Prosecutors revealed that on the day of the crash, the suspect had been drinking after finishing work and had a two-hour phone call with a friend while driving with an open container. The tragic incident occurred just hours before the brothers were to serve as groomsmen at their sister's wedding, and both were fathers-to-be at the time.
Last month, one of the brother's wives announced the birth of a baby boy named Tripp Matthew. The widow of the other brother, who was pregnant with their third child during his funeral in September, continues to mourn the loss.
