The L.A. County Superior Court will reconvene Dec. 11 in the case of the fatal Oct. 2023 PCH crash.
The court met at the Van Nuys Courthouse West on Nov. 13 to continue the preliminary hearing process.
Fraser Michael Bohm faces four counts of murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter after the PCH crash that killed four Pepperdine students — Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams.
The courtroom was nearly empty, but loved ones of the PCH crash victims sat in the stands — including Rolston’s parents and Bridget Thompson, close friend and roommate to three of the four Pepperdine women.
Both Bohm and his defense attorney Michael Kraut were not at the courthouse.
Kate Lebenzon, associate attorney for Kraut’s law firm, represented Kraut at the preliminary hearing setting.
Judge Diego Edber spoke with the prosecution and defense to set the next meeting date for Dec. 11. Both parties agreed to the date.
The November preliminary hearing is the third time the court has met since August.
Aug. 28 Preliminary Hearing Setting
At the Aug. 28 preliminary hearing setting, Kraut filed a motion for discovery — requesting all state records of fatal crashes that did not include foreign substances, according to previous Graphic reporting.
The court also set the next preliminary setting date for Oct. 9 during the August meeting.
Kraut argued that Bohm was a victim of road rage before the fatal crash occurred. He also claimed that Bohm was driving 70 mph instead of the 104 mph reported by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón.
Bohm did not appear in court on the Aug. 28 date, but Edber did require him to be in attendance for the Oct. 9 preliminary hearing setting.
Oct. 9 Preliminary Hearing
Bohm appeared in court Oct. 9, along with an entourage of about 20 people — including his parents and sister, according to previous Graphic reporting.
At the Oct. 9 setting, Kraut motioned for discovery in a case for discriminatory action. The cause for discriminatory action was improper notification of news media in the courtroom.
Prior to the Oct. 9 setting, Kraut mailed a letter to Edber, asking the court to be recused from the case, Edber said.
Edber denied the motion for discovery due to the lack of evidence.
Looking Forward
The trial is expected to begin early 2025. All of Bohm’s charges stand, Edber said.
Bohm is not required to appear in court for the December date, Edber said.
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Contact Gabrielle Salgado via email: gabrielle.salgado@pepperdine.edu
