A 23-year-old resident of Malibu, California, Fraser Bohm, has been ordered by a judge to face trial on charges of murder and vehicular manslaughter. This follows a fatal accident that occurred a year and a half ago, resulting in the death of four Pepperdine University students. Prosecutors allege that Bohm was driving at speeds between 93 and 104 mph in a 45 mph zone when the accident occurred on Pacific Coast Highway on October 17, 2023. The speed estimation was based on data retrieved from the “black box” of Bohm’s BMW.
The victims of the crash, Niamh Rolston, 20, Peyton Stewart, 21, Asha Weir, 21, and Deslyn Williams, 21, were all sorority sisters at Pepperdine University. The accident occurred around 8:30 p.m. when Bohm, allegedly speeding, hit three parked cars on a section of the Pacific Coast Highway known as “Dead Man’s Curve.”
Witness accounts of Bohm’s driving prior to the crash have been inconsistent. Bohm’s attorney, Michael Kraut of Kraut Law Group, stated that one of the witnesses admitted to engaging in a road rage incident with Bohm, which he claims contributed to the accident. Kraut also stated that witnesses supported his client’s claim that he was driving at 70 mph, not 104 mph, before the crash.
Kraut further explained that a video showed a car with bright lights shining directly into Bohm’s eyes, causing him to swerve. A woman driving in front of Bohm also saw the lights, moved over part of the lane, and honked at him, startling him and leading to the crash.
Kraut, who previously worked as a prosecutor for 15 years, expressed his belief that the case is unique. He stated that he had never seen a case go to trial like this one, where the defendant was convicted of murder. He also noted that the standard to proceed to trial following a preliminary hearing is not as high as the standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt” required for a conviction at trial.
The tragedy has deeply affected all parties involved. Kraut stated, “This is a horrible, horrible case for everybody — the victims, families. It’s a horrific event. And my client’s family and my client feel distraught over what happened.” He emphasized that the issue at hand is determining the level of crime his client committed, not simply charging him with the highest possible offense.
Superior Court Judge Diego H. Edber has scheduled Bohm’s arraignment for July 1.