A New Jersey judge has denied a motion to dismiss manslaughter charges against the driver accused of killing National Hockey League player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew in August 2024.
Sean M. Higgins faces multiple offences, including two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, following the fatal collision.
The 45-year-old pleaded not guilty in January after rejecting a prosecution plea deal that carried a 35-year prison sentence.
Blood alcohol dispute
Defence attorneys had sought to have the indictment thrown out over alleged discrepancies in toxicology reporting.
Prosecutors initially stated the accused driver had a blood alcohol concentration of .087, which is above the state’s legal driving limit.
However, defence lawyers argued in February that a review of the whole blood sample showed a reading of .075.
They claimed the initial higher reading was misleading because it was based solely on a test of blood serum rather than the complete sample.
‘Extreme indifference’
The state countered that the blood alcohol level was just one element proving reckless conduct on the day of the tragedy.
Prosecutors maintain the defendant’s actions amounted to an extreme indifference to human life, which is a necessary threshold for an aggravated manslaughter conviction.
Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio rejected the defence’s arguments during a hearing in Salem County on Monday.
“The evidence presented to the grand jury was adequate,” said the judge.
“There is no basis at this time to ask the state to represent, nor is there any basis to grant the motion to suppress.”
Next steps
The deaths of the former NHL forward and his younger brother prompted widespread tributes across the hockey community.
The siblings were fatally struck while riding their bicycles in New Jersey late last summer.
The accused is next scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial conference on 16 June.
LeBron James is considering retirement after the Los Angeles Lakers were swept from the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, leaving the NBA’s all-time leading scorer without a contract.
The 41-year-old’s 23rd professional season came to an abrupt end on Monday night following a 115-110 defeat.
This latest loss condemned the four-time MVP to only the third playoff series sweep defeat of his monumental 302-game postseason career.
With his current deal expiring, the basketball icon is now entirely uncommitted about his next steps in the sport.
Weighing up his options
Speculation surrounding the Ohio native’s future has steadily grown throughout the current campaign.
Following Monday’s elimination, the veteran forward admitted he needs time to evaluate an unprecedented career that began back in 2003.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously,” he said after the game.
“As it stands right now tonight, I’ve got a lot of time. I’ll sit back like I think I said last year after we lost to Minnesota, I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them.”
A potential farewell tour
This is not the first time the former first-overall draft pick has hinted at stepping away from the court.
During a poignant return to his hometown in January, he was visibly emotional while watching a pre-match tribute video presented by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
When asked previously about undertaking a final farewell tour across America, similar to the swansong of late Lakers great Kobe Bryant, he refused to rule out the possibility.
“I haven’t made a decision on the future but it very well could be,” he told reporters.
Lakers stay or fresh start?
If the legend decides against immediate retirement, several distinct avenues remain open to extend his playing days.
He could opt to re-sign with Los Angeles on a reduced contract, continuing a memorable tenure that recently saw him share the court with his son.
Alternatively, the Golden State Warriors and his former team, the Cavaliers, are both reportedly monitoring his availability with strong interest.
Having already cemented his status with four NBA titles, the sporting world now waits to see if basketball’s greatest scorer has played his final minute.
LeBron James is considering retirement after the Los Angeles Lakers were swept from the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, leaving the NBA’s all-time leading scorer without a contract.
The 41-year-old’s 23rd professional season came to an abrupt end on Monday night following a 115-110 defeat.
This latest loss condemned the four-time MVP to only the third playoff series sweep defeat of his monumental 302-game postseason career.
With his current deal expiring, the basketball icon is now entirely uncommitted about his next steps in the sport.
Weighing up his options
Speculation surrounding the Ohio native’s future has steadily grown throughout the current campaign.
Following Monday’s elimination, the veteran forward admitted he needs time to evaluate an unprecedented career that began back in 2003.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously,” he said after the game.
“As it stands right now tonight, I’ve got a lot of time. I’ll sit back like I think I said last year after we lost to Minnesota, I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them.”
A potential farewell tour
This is not the first time the former first-overall draft pick has hinted at stepping away from the court.
During a poignant return to his hometown in January, he was visibly emotional while watching a pre-match tribute video presented by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
When asked previously about undertaking a final farewell tour across America, similar to the swansong of late Lakers great Kobe Bryant, he refused to rule out the possibility.
“I haven’t made a decision on the future but it very well could be,” he told reporters.
Lakers stay or fresh start?
If the legend decides against immediate retirement, several distinct avenues remain open to extend his playing days.
He could opt to re-sign with Los Angeles on a reduced contract, continuing a memorable tenure that recently saw him share the court with his son.
Alternatively, the Golden State Warriors and his former team, the Cavaliers, are both reportedly monitoring his availability with strong interest.
Having already cemented his status with four NBA titles, the sporting world now waits to see if basketball’s greatest scorer has played his final minute.
Arsenal defender Ben White will miss the remainder of the Premier League season after suffering a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury.
The news comes as a significant blow to the league leaders as they attempt to hold off a late title charge from defending champions Manchester City.
Journalist David Ornstein reported the severity of the issue, confirming the English right-back will play no further part in the current campaign.
Defensive headache for Mikel Arteta
This latest setback leaves the North London club severely depleted on the right side of their backline.
Summer signing Jurrien Timber is already sidelined with a long-term knee issue, meaning the squad is critically short of natural reinforcements.
The manager must now find a viable defensive solution for the final two domestic fixtures to keep their championship dreams alive.
During last weekend’s clash against West Ham, the Spanish tactician briefly experimented with shifting Declan Rice into the vacant full-back role after the defender was substituted.
Title race implications
That temporary tactical switch allowed the Hammers to dominate central areas before the former West Ham captain was returned to his natural midfield position at the interval.
Retaining the £105m midfielder in the centre of the park is widely considered crucial if the club hopes to secure maximum points from their remaining games.
Meanwhile, the injury bulletin will undoubtedly provide encouragement for Pep Guardiola’s chasing side.
While the Gunners currently dictate the pace at the summit, their Manchester rivals retain a crucial game in hand against Crystal Palace.
A midweek victory for the reigning champions would reduce the gap at the top of the table to a mere two points, ensuring a tense finale to the season.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has questioned Lamine Yamal after the winger displayed a Palestine flag during the club’s La Liga trophy parade on Monday.
The Catalan giants were crowned Spanish champions for the 25th time following a 2-0 victory over fierce rivals Real Madrid in El Clasico.
During the subsequent celebrations, the teenage forward was seen hoisting the flag in apparent support of Palestine amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.
Manager prefers football focus
Flick admitted he was not overly impressed by the political statement, preferring the focus to remain firmly on his team’s achievements.
The German tactician revealed he had spoken privately with the Ballon d’Or contender regarding the incident.
“This I normally don’t like, I spoke with him, and I said if he wants this, he is old enough, he is 18 years old, and its his decision.”
He emphasised that the squad’s primary role is to entertain their supporters through performances on the pitch.
“We are playing football, and you can see what the people expect from us. When I see the crowd, they were very emotional, tears in their eyes.”
The former Bayern Munich boss noted that seeing the fans’ reaction to securing a second consecutive league title validates their hard work.
Overcoming injury obstacles
The newly crowned champions secured the title against Alvaro Arbeloa’s side thanks to a brilliant Marcus Rashford free-kick and a strike from Ferran Torres.
Reflecting on the campaign, the Barcelona boss praised his squad’s resilience in the face of numerous fitness setbacks.
Key figures including Raphinha, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, and Yamal himself have all spent time sidelined this season.
“I told them today that they played a fantastic season, it was not easy, because we had a lot of injuries, so it’s amazing what a season we played.”
Flick also highlighted a vast defensive improvement over the past two months as the vital catalyst for their title success.
Social media taunts
Away from the parade controversy, the 18-year-old also used the title win to mock Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham.
Following an October defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu, the England international had posted a provocative message on social media.
The Spanish winger returned the exact same phrase on Instagram on Sunday, accompanied by a series of crying emojis.
Barcelona have accumulated 91 points from 35 games and could reach a historic 100-point milestone if they win their remaining three fixtures.
They travel to Alaves on Wednesday, before hosting Real Betis and concluding the campaign away at Valencia.
Spain remain the leading contenders to win the 2026 World Cup ahead of France as the 30-day countdown to the tournament gets underway.
The global showpiece kicks off on 11 June when Mexico host South Africa in Mexico City.
Yamal injury a concern for La Roja
Despite currently sitting second in the world rankings, the European nation are widely tipped to lift the trophy this summer.
However, their preparations have been clouded by a significant hamstring injury sustained by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
The Barcelona winger is expected to recover in time to make the squad, but any further setbacks could severely impact their campaign.
They will navigate a relatively gentle Group H, facing Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
Deschamps begins his final chapter
Second-favourites France are preparing for their final tournament under long-serving manager Didier Deschamps.
Having guided Les Bleus to global glory in 2018, the veteran coach is aiming for one last triumph before his expected departure.
His side face a demanding Group I schedule that includes challenging fixtures against Senegal, Iraq and Norway.
Attacking dilemmas for Les Bleus
Star forward Kylian Mbappe leads the French frontline, but the Real Madrid attacker has endured a disruptive build-up plagued by minor injuries and club-level squabbles.
Deschamps must also cope without Hugo Ekitike after the Liverpool striker suffered a serious injury earlier this year.
The manager’s primary tactical challenge will be integrating attacking midfielder Michael Olise to replicate his dominant domestic form for Bayern Munich.
Manchester United are considering appointing interim boss Michael Carrick as their permanent manager after securing Champions League qualification.
The 43-year-old took temporary charge following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim earlier this season.
United were languishing two places outside the European qualification spots when the change was made in the dugout.
However, a remarkable run of form has seen the Old Trafford outfit win 10 of their first 15 matches under their former midfielder.
Impressive record against top-six rivals
Since stepping into the breach, the English tactician has accumulated more Premier League points than any other manager.
His side boasts a flawless record against title-contending opposition during this highly successful spell.
Sensational victories over Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Aston Villa have yielded a maximum 15 points.
They have also dispatched Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur to underline their dramatic domestic revival.
Echoes of the Solskjaer era
The current scenario bears striking similarities to the permanent appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Norwegian initially thrived as a caretaker following Jose Mourinho’s departure before eventually struggling to maintain long-term momentum.
Club officials must now decide whether to reward immediate success or heed the warnings of recent history.
This dramatic turnaround follows a dismal previous campaign where the Red Devils slumped to a 15th-place league finish.
Dressing room backing
The interim boss has secured overwhelming support from his playing squad.
Midfielder Mason Mount believes the current trajectory proves the team is capable of challenging for the league title next year.
Multiple unnamed squad members have publicly backed the former England international to secure the full-time role.
“You want to follow him. You want to fight for him. You want to die for him on the pitch.”
Another senior figure insisted the caretaker has already demonstrated the exceptional qualities required to lead the illustrious club.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice are the leading contenders for the Premier League Player of the Season awards following a fiercely contested campaign.
The debate over England’s standout individual performer is intensifying as the domestic schedule nears its conclusion.
The Portuguese playmaker recently claimed the first major individual prize of the calendar.
He was crowned Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) last weekend.
The case for Arsenal’s driving force
Despite the Manchester United talisman taking early honours, a compelling argument remains for Arsenal’s record signing.
The Gunners have established themselves as one of Europe’s elite sides this term amid a relentless title battle.
At the heart of that success has been the former West Ham captain.
The 25-year-old has acted as the driving force of Mikel Arteta’s midfield.
His staggering durability has seen him rack up more than 4,000 minutes across four different competitions.
Tactical flexibility and vital interventions
The England international has missed just a single league fixture during a gruelling schedule.
He has also demonstrated remarkable versatility during ongoing defensive absences in north London.
Arteta has even deployed his reliable anchor as an emergency right-back to navigate worsening injury crises.
Operating primarily as an advanced number eight earlier in the campaign, he contributed five goals and nine assists.
Recently, the tireless midfielder has dropped into a deeper role to solidify the team’s defensive foundation.
Creative numbers divide opinion
Critics have attempted to downplay the Arsenal star’s attacking output due to his reliance on set-piece deliveries.
However, similar metrics are currently being used to champion his Old Trafford counterpart.
More than half of the 19 league assists provided by the FWA winner have stemmed from corners or free-kicks.
With voting for the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) accolade still pending, the battle for individual supremacy remains wide open.