Defense asks for a reduction from $4 million to $2 million for charges in crash that led to deaths of four Pepperdine students
Fraser Michael Bohm returned to a packed courtroom in Van Nuys on Sept. 5. The 23-year-old is charged with four counts of murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence following the Oct. 17, 2023, crash on Pacific Coast Highway that led to the deaths of Pepperdine seniors Deslyn Williams, Asha Weir, Niamh Rolston, and Peyton Stewart. The four sorority sisters were killed when Bohm, allegedly speeding, lost control of his BMW and, according to court filings, sideswiped a parked car, jumped the curb, and careened into where the young women were walking, killing them instantly.
Bohm entered Superior Court on Friday morning flanked by his defense team. Bohm recently replaced attorney Michael Kraut with Alan Jackson, whose client roster includes Hollywood actors, NBA athletes, and corporate CEOs. Jackson is the former Los Angeles district attorney who successfully prosecuted music producer Phil Spector on murder charges and earlier this year won an acquittal for accused murderer Karen Read in a highly-publicized Massachusetts case. Bohm was joined by his family and many supporters. The courtroom was also filled with victims’ family members and friends from the Pepperdine community.
Bohm spoke little at the pretrial hearing, but under questioning by Judge Thomas Rubinson, who will preside over his trial, waived his right to a speedy trial.
At the pretrial hearing, Rubinson denied a defense motion requesting a bail reduction from $4 million to $2 million. Jackson argued that his client’s family had sold their home and drained their finances in order to mount a defense and make bail. Jackson did not request any concessions beyond the bail reduction, meaning Bohm’s passport would remain confiscated and he would remain without driving privileges. In response, prosecutor Nathan Bartos argued that the initial $8 million bond had already been reduced to $4 million and its posting demonstrated that Bohm was capable of raising the necessary funds. Rubinson remarked, “There are many, many defendants sitting in the county jail right now who would love me to reduce their bail so they can hire Alan Jackson or other private counsel. That’s not the way it works.” That comment elicited some laughter in the courtroom. Rubinson argued that Bohm was free to hire another lawyer or use a court-appointed public defender.
According to public records, Bohm’s family’s Big Rock home was listed for sale in June 2023 for close to $10 million. It was eventually sold in February 2024 for $7.25 million.
The prosecution and defense lawyers are still working out some discovery issues, including getting access to Bohm’s phone to scan it for any calls or texts leading up to the deadly collision. Both sides have indicated that Bohm was not driving under the influence of alcohol.
Bohm’s first attorney, Michael Kraut, claimed Bohm was the victim of road rage and that his car was clipped by another speeding driver. Kraut also argued that Bohm should not face murder charges when other recent fatal crashes on Pacific Coast Highway involving alleged alcohol abuse did not result in murder charges, such as the July 4, 2024, case involving Summer Wheaton. Wheaton faces vehicular manslaughter and DUI charges stemming from a head-on collision that occurred shortly after the closing of the Red White and Bootsy party at Nobu Malibu, resulting in the death of rideshare driver Martin Okeke.
In court filings, Kraut cited other “dry cases” where the accused driver was not charged with murder. Prosecutors responded that “during the last five years, the People have charged murder in traffic fatalities 39 times where there was no evidence of DUI. In an additional 19 cases, murder was charged in circumstances where DUI was suspected, but there was insufficient evidence of intoxication, however evidence of implied malice existed. Thus, in 48 [sic] cases in the last 5 years the prosecution has filed murder charges arising out of traffic fatalities.” The defense’s motion to dismiss the murder charges on this basis was denied by Judge Diego Edber in March.
Bohm has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The next court date is set for Oct. 8.