Background: News footage of Fraser Bohm during a court appearance (KABC). Inset (clockwise from top left): Peyton Stewart (LinkedIn), Asha Weir and Niamh Rolston (Instagram), Deslyn Williams (Instagram).
A tragic car crash in California that claimed the lives of four college students continues to unfold in court, as Fraser Bohm’s attempt to have murder charges against him dismissed was denied. The 24-year-old faces serious legal repercussions following the fatal October 2023 incident.
Bohm is charged with four counts of murder and an equal number of vehicular manslaughter charges with gross negligence. The victims, Pepperdine University students Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams, all lost their lives when Bohm allegedly drove significantly over the speed limit in a notoriously dangerous area known as “Dead Man’s Curve.” Reports from MyNewsLA.com indicate that Bohm was traveling 59 mph in a 45 mph zone.
The crash occurred on a stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, where Bohm reportedly lost control of his BMW, colliding with three parked vehicles. Tragically, these vehicles struck the four young women, who were walking nearby after exiting a car, leading to their untimely deaths.
In an attempt to mitigate his client’s culpability, Bohm’s defense team argued he was attempting to escape a “road rage incident” on that fateful evening of October 17, 2023. They contended that this necessitated his high-speed driving. Defense attorneys Alan Jackson, Kelly Quinn, and Jacqueline Sparagna insisted that the prosecutors’ case lacked the necessary legal basis, suggesting the tragedy’s emotional impact might overshadow legal standards in the courtroom.
However, counterclaims surfaced from the local ABC affiliate KABC, which reported that the other driver involved, Victor Calandra, had secured his own legal representation. Calandra’s lawyer dismissed the notion that he was pursuing Bohm, labeling such claims as absurd. Prosecutors have hinted at the possibility of using Calandra’s testimony to illustrate Bohm’s alleged reckless behavior.
In a firm rebuttal, prosecutors emphasized Bohm’s excessive speed on a road that is essentially residential, arguing that no justification, including the alleged road rage escape, could excuse the peril he posed. They further noted the absence of any evidence supporting Bohm’s version of events and pointed out that he failed to mention the road rage incident to deputies at the scene.
As Law&Crime previously reported, Bohm was rearrested on Oct. 24, 2023, after his initial arrest on the night of the crash. He posted $4 million bail after being charged with four counts of murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. His original bail was set at $8 million and was later reduced. A request to reduce his bail a second time was denied, and Bohm’s family reportedly drained their finances to get him released, according to The Malibu Times.
In Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, Judge Thomas Rubinson denied the defense’s motion to dismiss the murder charges. Bohm is scheduled to appear in court again in January, when the judge is expected to announce a date to put Bohm on trial.
Rolston, Stewart, Weir, and Williams were sorority sisters and college seniors who were expected to graduate in 2024. Pepperdine University honored them with posthumous degrees.
