Jim Leyritz Trial Delayed After Release of New Videotape—Part One

The trial of former New York Yankees catcher Jim Leyritz for DUI manslaughter in Broward County Circuit Court has been delayed until this December or next January due to the release of a controversial videotape, Broward DUI attorney William Moore has learned. The video appears to show that the crash happened ten minutes earlier than prosecutors had initially theorized based on other available evidence. The State Attorneys and police authorities who have been working on Leyritz’s DUI case had calculated that Leyritz ran a red light and crashed into Fredia Ann Veitch’s sport utility vehicle at 3:19 A.M. in downtown Fort Lauderdale in December 2007, Fort Lauderdale DUI Lawyer William Moore has learned.

On September 4, however, a representative for Leyritz announced that his legal team had uncovered a video which showed Veitch driving past a surveillance camera at 3:08 A.M. Leyritz’s defense now contends that Veitch’s driving pattern and rate of speed in the video show that the crash may have occurred ten minutes earlier than prosecutors had initially believed. Leyritz will have experts view the videotape to establish the victim’s rate of speed and use this information to determine when the crash occurred based on the tape and other information, Broward DUI Lawyer William Moore says. Leyritz’s team estimates that the speed Veitch was driving, according to the video, could help authorities determine when the crash occurred because there were no traffic lights to slow her down.

There may also be an issue with discovery, Fort Lauderdale DUI attorney William Moore believes. Leyritz apparently sought the tape for a year, but had been told repeatedly by city officials that no tape of the intersection or of Veitch’s vehicle existed. If the crash occurred ten minutes earlier than originally thought, the change in timing could also affect toxicology reports regarding Leyritz’s blood alcohol concentration at the time of the accident. Police collected two blood samples from Leyritz after the crash. The first, two and a half hours following the crash, showed a blood alcohol content of .14. The second was taken an hour after the first (three and a half hours from the crash) found a blood alcohol content of .13. Leyritz may argue that he would have been less drunk if the crash occurred closer to 3:08 A.M. than 3:19 A.M. because the alcohol would have had less time to absorb into his blood.

Fort Lauderdale DUI Lawyer William Moore provides outstanding DUI defense in south Florida. If you have been charged with or arrested for DUI, contact Fort Lauderdale drunk driving attorney William Moore

This article should be used for information only and should not be used as legal advice nor as implied representation of any person.