No matter the circumstances, a DUI that involves the death of another person is traumatic for all involved. For the victims and their families, because it is a DUI charge, it can be even more so. When it comes to penalties, they can vary widely when it comes to a DUI manslaughter charge. The minimum penalty is a four-year prison sentence, in addition to license revocation and other penalties. Depending on the circumstances and the driver’s criminal history, the sentence can be longer. The average sentence in Florida for this offense is 10 years. It is also rare that a prosecutor will agree to a plea deal in DUI manslaughter cases.
The State reports that a man who admitted to being intoxicated when he ran over a college student has now pleaded not guilty.
Days after running over 21-year-old London Harrell, 25-year-old Yousef Hasan confessed to being intoxicated and apologized.
On October 29th, Hasan pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
Harrell had been walking well into the grass on the campus of the University of Central Florida. Her injuries were so severe that she died just days after the crash.
After the crash, police discovered Hasan asleep on the ground behind his car in a nearby parking lot. He was arrested on June 22nd. There was damage to the windshield to his car, along with blood, and hair that matched the color of Harrell’s.
Highway patrol said that Hasan’s eyes were glassy and bloodshot. He was also slurring his speech and stumbling. He failed a field sobriety test.
Despite pleas that came from the victim’s father, a judge released Hasan on $11,500 bond. After Harrell died, the charges were upgraded and a new bond of $75,000 was set. Hasan posted the bond and was released but ordered to wear an alcohol monitoring bracelet. In September, a judge found that Hasan had tampered with the bracelet.
Court documents indicate that Hasan has a previous arrest history for drug charges. They also show that Hasan is a member of the Trey Nine Gangster Bloods.
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