Johnny Gaudreau’s family faces defendant Sean Higgins for the first time since killing

Just over two months ago, Columbus Blue Jackets star forward Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother Matthew were stuck and killed by a drunk Sean Higgins while riding bikes in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, on August 29, on the eve of their sister’s wedding, where both brothers were to be groomsmen. On Tuesday, a brief hearing was held in which the judge granted prosecutors 30 additional days in which to seek formal charges in the Gaudreau brothers’ deaths.

According to the Associated Press, members of the Gaudreau family were present in the court as was the defendant, who in the past, had appeared at hearings via video from behind bars. The hearing marked the first time the Gaudreau family and Higgins faced one another in court. Nobody from the family spoke during the hearing.

On Tuesday, the judge extended the window for prosecutors to seek an indictment. No new court date was scheduled, and Higgins will remain in prison.

As the case gets unfolded and shared with media, we found out that it was suggested that Higgins was driving over the 50 miles per hour speed limit. Two drivers Higgins attempted to pass both claimed they were driving about 55 mph, with the implication Higgins was traveling faster than that. He told state troopers he “didn’t even see the bikes.” Prosecutors said Higgins’ blood alcohol level was registered at 0.087%, over the legal limit of 0.08% and it was also revealed that he had been drinking at home about 3 p.m after getting upset by a phone call with his mother.

Higgins is charged with two counts of death, and also charged with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle, meaning Higgins could face up to 20 years in prison.

Johnny was 31 years old at the time of his death, while Matthew was 29. Meredith Gaudreau is pregnant with the couple’s third child as the couple shared daughter Noa and son Johnny. Matthew Gaudreau’s wife, Madeline, is also expecting a child, the couple’s first, a son due in December, who will be named Tripp.

I am sure the hearing on Tuesday was a very difficult moment for the members of the Gaudreau family present in court.