Man charged with killing NHL’s Johnny Gaudreau and brother turns down deal

The driver accused of killing NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew while they were bicycling on a rural New Jersey road pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday after rejecting a prosecution offer of 35 years in prison.

Sean M. Higgins, 44, appeared briefly in court in Salem County, New Jersey, and entered a formal plea to the recent charges in connection with the August 29 deaths. The case now goes to court.

Police say Higgins had a history of road rage and was impaired on the day of the Gaudreaus’ deaths after drinking five or six beers. Higgins said he had been driving around for two hours, sometimes talking to a friend on the phone, after a disturbing conversation with his mother.

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were murdered near their family home on the eve of their sister’s wedding.

A woman who had been driving for Higgins told police he had been driving aggressively. She said when she and another driver slowed and turned left to pass the cyclists, Higgins accelerated and turned right, hitting the Gaudreaus.

Higgins had a blood alcohol level of 0.087, which is above the state’s legal limit of 0.08, and failed a sobriety test, police said.

He is being held on charges including two counts of aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide, along with tampering with evidence and leaving the scene of an accident.

Defense attorney Matthew Portella has called Higgins a loving father and a good person who “made a terrible decision that night.”

Portella and county prosecutors confirmed the terms of the proposed deal.

Johnny Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” played ten full seasons in the NHL and was set to enter his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played his first eight seasons with the Calgary Flames.