An allegedly drunk man from Pasadena has been charged with murder for his role in a crash that killed an infant.
26-year-old Jared Hale Lynch Silvestri was charged with murder, DUI causing injury or death, and driving with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or above. Prosecutors filed the charges on Tuesday in connection with a Saturday evening crash.
Silvestri was scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday, but that has been postponed until December 15th.
Melanie Brown, 4-months, of Carson, was killed in the Saturday crash. Her grandmother and another passenger, 9, were also injured in the crash.
The 48-year-old grandmother was pulling her Chrysler over to the shoulder when Silvestri slammed into the vehicle at a high rate of speed.
Paramedics took the grandmother and both granddaughters to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. The infant eventually succumbed to her injuries.
Initially, Silvestri was only charged with DUI in the case. However, when the infant victim died and it was discovered that Silvestri had been convicted of another DUI just 8-months earlier, prosecutors decided to add murder to the list of charges.
Under California law, in order to charge murder in a DUI case, there must be an accusation of “implied malice.”
People convicted of DUI are given a Watson advisory when sentenced. By signing the advisory, the convicted is essentially saying that if someone dies as a result of DUI committed by the convicted, prosecutors can file murder charges.
Silvestri received a Watson advisory earlier this year with his previous DUI conviction.
If you have been charged with DUI, you will need legal representation. Out attorneys specialize in the defense of DUI charges. Contact us today.
