The out-of-control BMW driver accused of killing four Pepperdine University students appeared in court Wednesday – now backed by the high-powered defense attorney who helped acquit Karen Read of murder.
Fraser Bohm, 23, was arraigned at the Van Nuys Courthouse, where he pleaded not guilty to murder and vehicular manslaughter charges for fatally mowing down Niamh Rolston, 20, Peyton Stewart, 21, Asha Weir, 21, and Deslyn Williams, 21, at over 100 mph in Malibu on Oct. 17, 2023.
Bohm, dressed in a dark gray suit, remained silent during the brief hearing as his new lawyer, Alan Jackson, entered the plea on his behalf, according to the Daily Mail.
Jackson – the hotshot LA lawyer who’s defended Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Phil Spector and most recently Read – took over the high-profile murder case in late June and said he plans to raise “several issues” at the next hearing.
“The prosecution has a head start on us and we have a lot of work to do to catch up,” he told the outlet following the minutes-long court appearance.
“So I can’t see a trial starting before the end of 2025.”
Prosecutors said the Malibu resident was allegedly driving 104 mph on a notoriously dangerous 45 mph stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway when he lost control of his luxury car and slammed into three parked cars, which then collided into the four Alpha Phi Sorority sisters walking nearby.
The victims, seniors at the liberal arts college, all died at the scene.
Two other people were injured in the crash, which Bohm walked away from unscathed.
He was initially arrested and charged with gross vehicular manslaughter — charges that were upgraded to four counts of murder a week later.
Bohm was initially held on $8 million bail, which was later slashed in half after his former attorney argued he was a victim of road rage — a claim prosecutors have said lacks evidence.
“They were killed because of the driving of the defendant,” Deputy District Attorney Nathan Bartos told the court during a hearing in April, the outlet reported.
“He consciously decided to get that vehicle up to the speed of 104 miles an hour. And he lost control of his vehicle… That was not an accident.”
Bohm is expected to stand trial and faces multiple life sentence, if convicted.
He is reportedly due back in court for a pretrial hearing on Sept. 5.
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