A 22-year old Norman man has been charged with second-degree murder and related charges after an Oklahoma City DUI accident in April claimed the life of jazz vocalist Ashlee Madison. Justin T. Hill, 22, was charged with second degree murder, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, and causing a personal injury accident while under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
Norman DUI Charges
His defense attorney had no public comment regarding the charges. The fatal accident occurred in the early hours of April 17, 2010. Justin Hill was allegedly driving the wrong way on Interstate 235, heading south in the northbound lanes near the I-35 and I-40 junction, when he struck a car in which Madison was a passenger.
Madison, a University of Oklahoma student and mother to an 18-month old child, was returning home from a jazz performance at the time of the accident. After the head-on collision, Hill continued driving until lost control of his vehicle and rolled it.
According to court affidavits, Hill's blood alcohol content after the accidents was .22, nearly three times the legal limit of .08. Second degree murder in Oklahoma occurs when a death is the result of "an act imminently dangerous to another person and evincing a depraved mind, regardless of human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular individual."
This means that, while the perpetrator did not plan the death of another person, he or she engaged in dangerous activities without regard for the lives of others. In Oklahoma, a second degree murder conviction can lead to a sentence of ten years to life in prison.
DUI Legal Defense in Norman OK
Those arrested or charged with DUI need to consult an Oklahoma City DUI defense lawyer as soon as possible to help understand their options for protecting their rights. If one is suspected of DUI in an accident resulting in the injury or death of another person, the consequences become much more severe. An experienced criminal defense attorney in Oklahoma has the knowledge to help the accused fight unjust charges and maintain his or her legal rights.
