California law provides for increased penalties for multiple DUI convictions. Simply stated, if a person has previous DUIs, the penalties get more severe with each subsequent DUI. If a person is killed in a DUI accident, a previous DUI can result in a charge of second-degree murder. Typically, as part of a DUI sentence, a driver will have to complete DUI school, probation, or both. During the course of probation or DUI school, they are warned that if they are involved in a DUI accident that kills someone, they can be charged with murder.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports on a man facing a murder charge for a fatal DUI.
39-year-old Michael Farah Khoury was charged with murder last Wednesday. The charges stem from an alleged DUI accident where his truck broadsided a Nissan being driven by Alexander Reyes last Monday.
According to police, Khoury was speeding eastward on California Street at around 3 a.m. when he slammed into Reyes, who was traveling north on Park Presidio Boulevard.
56-year-old Reyes was trapped in his vehicle and subsequently died at the scene. A passenger in Khoury’s truck was also injured.
At the time of the accident, Khoury allegedly had a blood-alcohol level of 0.19%.
Because Khoury has a DUI conviction from 2009, he was charged with murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Khoury pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The judge agreed to set Khoury’s bond at $500,000 with the conditions that he remain under house arrest, abstain from alcohol, and wear an ankle monitor.
