Lawyers for driver accused of killing bride on her wedding day slam 'villain' portrayal
Lawyers for a woman who has been charged with killing a bride on her wedding night while driving under the influence have hit back at the 'villain' portrayal she is getting.
Jamie Lee Komoroski, 25, was discovered to have a blood alcohol level three times over the legal limit, after she was involved in a car cash with newlyweds Samantha Miller, 34, and Aric Hutchinson, 36.
The couple were being escorted from their wedding in a golf cart on Folly Beach when they were struck by Komoroski's car.
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The crash killed bride Samantha and badly injured groom Aric, as well as other passengers onboard.
Jamie has since been charged by police with three counts of felony DUI resulting in bodily injury or death, and one count of reckless homicide.
Although Jamie was denied bond at first, her lawyers, Christopher J. Gramiccioni and Nathan S. Williams, have now filed a motion for bond with a bail set at $100,000.
As part of the bond, they suggested that Komoroski attend and complete an inpatient rehabilitation program before staying at her mother's home in New Jersey, with no access to alcohol or a vehicle.
Laying out their case, Komoroski's lawyers also slammed the 'villain' portrayal she is getting in the media, with photos of her socialising at parties being published alongside the story.
The motion, seen by ABC News, reads: "Certain media reports paint a picture of the accused as an unrepentant villain who ostensibly had a history of partying behaviour, extrapolated from handpicked photographs posted to social accounts appearing to depict the accused attending a Halloween party or socialising with friends while in college.
"As this court is aware, such characterisations of the accused serve only to inflame public sentiment and remain irrelevant to the determination as to whether Ms. Komoroski poses a flight risk or any danger to the community."
The motion goes on to state that Komoroski has no criminal history and a strong familial support, suggesting that she poses no future threat to anyone.
Meanwhile, bereaved groom Aric Hutchinson has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jamie Komoroski.
Announcing the lawsuit in a press release, attorneys acting on behalf of the family said: "The tragedy has shattered the entire family, beyond just the individuals named in the lawsuit."
As well as Komoroski herself, the lawsuit also lists out several establishments, which allegedly served the defendant alcohol before she got behind the wheel, despite her being 'noticeably and visibly intoxicated.'
In the meantime, according to the couple's GoFundMe page, Aric is in the process of planning his bride's funeral.
As of Sunday, 21 May, the GoFundMe page has raised over $728,000 to go toward Samantha's funeral and the medical costs for Aric's treatment.
Ali Condon