California DUI Murder Convictions are on the Rise
Although California DUI murder cases a.k.a. “Watson murder” cases used to be quite rare, they seem to be on the rise. Last week, an Orange County jury convicted Suzanne Amelia Carlson, 27, of second-degree murder after she killed her passenger by crashing into an 18-wheeler Fed-Ex truck while she was intoxicated back in 2007.
Within an hour of the accident, Carlson submitted to a DUI breath test that revealed a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .22%. Carlson had previously been convicted of three DUIs, one in 2001, and two in 2007.
In order for a prosecutor to get a murder conviction in a DUI death case, he/she must prove that the defendant had first-hand knowledge about the dangers of drinking and driving, yet acted with complete and reckless disregard for that fact. Prosecutors were apparently able to prove that in this case, as well as two other recent California DUI murder or “Watson” murder cases.
Carlson, as well as the other defendants recently convicted of DUI murder, face fifteen years-to-life in the California State Prison for their acts. This is one reason why it is critical to consult with an experienced California DUI defense attorney immediately upon arrest if your DUI involved an accident where someone was injured or killed.
