A California man accused of causing a devastating crash that claimed the lives of four Pepperdine University students will face a jury after a judge rejected a final attempt to dismiss the most serious charges against him.
Fraser Bohm, 24, is charged with four counts of second-degree murder as well as four counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence following the October 2023 collision on Malibu’s Pacific Coast Highway.
His trial is scheduled to begin on September 8 after a Los Angeles County judge ruled there was sufficient evidence for the case to proceed.
Judge Rejects Defense’s Bid to Drop Murder Charges
Bohm’s legal team urged the court to dismiss the murder counts, arguing they had uncovered significant new evidence that they believed undermined the prosecution’s case.
They also claimed earlier pretrial proceedings had been flawed and questioned whether the evidence met the legal threshold for implied malice murder.
However, Judge Thomas Rubinson declined the request, allowing prosecutors to move forward with the charges that could carry far more severe penalties if Bohm is convicted.
Prosecutors Say Excessive Speed Led to Deadly Collision
According to prosecutors, Bohm was driving his BMW at approximately 104 miles per hour in a section of Pacific Coast Highway where the posted speed limit is 45 mph.
The stretch of road has long been known locally as “Deadman’s Curve” because of its history of serious crashes.
Investigators allege Bohm slammed into several parked vehicles before they struck the four students, who were walking nearby.
Authorities say data recovered from the vehicle’s event recorder showed the BMW accelerated from roughly 93 mph to 104 mph just seconds before the impact rather than slowing down.
Prosecutors argue the evidence demonstrates Bohm knowingly engaged in extremely dangerous driving despite the obvious risk of causing fatal injuries.
Defense Maintains Crash Followed Alleged Road Rage Incident
Bohm has consistently denied that his actions amounted to murder, insisting the crash occurred while he was attempting to escape another driver.
His attorneys claim a white vehicle swerved into his lane during what they describe as a road rage encounter, clipping the BMW moments before the collision.
They argue Bohm reacted to that situation rather than intentionally ignoring the danger posed by his driving.
The defense has also questioned the reliability of eyewitness accounts, surveillance footage and estimates of Bohm’s speed, arguing that inconsistencies create reasonable doubt over the prosecution’s version of events.
Prosecutors Point to Driver’s Knowledge of the Risks
During previous hearings, prosecutors emphasized that Bohm allegedly continued accelerating even after losing control of the vehicle.
They argued his speed exceeded the posted limit by more than 230 percent and demonstrated what they described as a reckless disregard for human life.
Deputy District Attorney Nathan Bartos has argued that Bohm understood the consequences of driving at such extreme speeds and nevertheless chose to continue, supporting the second-degree murder charges based on implied malice.
Court Notes Familiarity With Dangerous Highway
Judge Rubinson also highlighted evidence presented during earlier proceedings indicating Bohm was well aware of the dangers associated with speeding.
The judge noted testimony suggesting Bohm had previously lost two close friends in a high-speed crash and was familiar with the notoriously hazardous stretch of Pacific Coast Highway where the collision occurred.
Evidence presented to the court also indicated another motorist allegedly warned Bohm to slow down shortly before the fatal crash after observing his erratic driving.
The judge concluded there was no persuasive evidence supporting the defense’s claim that Bohm had been involved in a road rage incident immediately before the collision.
Families Continue Pursuing Civil Lawsuits
The four victims—Niamh Rolston, Asha Weir, Peyton Stewart and Deslyn Williams—were seniors at Pepperdine University’s Seaver College of Liberal Arts and members of the Alpha Phi sorority.
All four died at the scene.
The students had been expected to graduate with the Class of 2024 and were later awarded their degrees posthumously by the university.
Alongside the criminal proceedings, Bohm also faces separate civil lawsuits filed by the families of each of the four young women as they continue seeking accountability for the tragedy.
