The woman accused of killing a bride on her wedding day in a South Carolina DUI crash has been denied bond, having been held without bail since April.
Samantha Miller, 34, was killed as Jamie Komoroski, 25, allegedly crashed into the golf cart she left her wedding reception in with new husband Aric Hutchinson, 36 – who was also left critically injured in the incident.
It's alleged Komoroski was speeding at 65mph in a 25mph zone behind the wheel of a rented Toyota Camry at Folly Beach, South Carolina.
At the time, her blood-alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit, according to a toxicology report.
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Since the 28 April crash, Komoroski has been held at the Charleston County jail on three counts of felony DUI resulting in death and one count of reckless homicide.
She appeared via video link Charleston court yesterday, with her attorneys seeking a $100,000 bond under the conditions that she attended a rehabilitation program, remain under her mother’s supervision and forgo access to a vehicle or alcohol.
Arguing she did not pose a flight risk or danger to the community, her legal team also pointed to her lack of prior criminal history and strong family support, the Associated Press (AP) reports – adding that Komoroski looked ‘visibly shaking’ during the proceeding.
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However, Circuit Judge Michael Nettles decided to deny bond, deeming her a flight risk despite her lawyers’ argument.
“This is certainly a very tragic situation for all concerned,” Nettles said.
He urged both parties to expedite the trial, which is currently scheduled for March 2024.
The AP said if Komoroski’s case is not heard by then, she can be released on a $150,000 surety bond, which would see her subjected to electronic monitoring and placed on house arrest.
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Lisa Miller, the bride’s mother, said tearfully in court: “She didn’t just kill my child.
“She killed all of us.”
A GoFundMe page set up by the groom's devastated mother, Annette Hutchinson, was set up to 'help pay for Sam's burial and medical costs for Aric and his family'.
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“We are missing Sam more than anything, she instantly fit into our family from the first day Aric and Sam met, she was everything to my son and changed him for the better,” Hutchinson said in an 8 May update.
“She could light up a room with her presence and had an ease about her. They shared many hopes and dreams for their future including children and building a house.
“From the incident Aric received multiple injuries including two broken legs, one which had to be surgically repaired. Broken bones in his face which also had to be surgically repaired. Broken vertebraes in his back, brain bleeds, and numerous cuts with stitches.
“He is physically recovering at home while trying to come to terms with the loss of his beautiful wife. Now he is doing the unimaginable of planning Sam’s funeral along with her family.”
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The fundraiser has exceeded its $100,000 target by raising more than $733,000 at the time of writing.
Topics: US News, Jamie Lee Komoroski
Jess Hardiman