Amandeep Singh, the driver accused of killing two Roslyn Middle School teens in a wrong-way drunk driving incident in May, will have his pre-trial hearings set at his next court date on Feb. 20.
Presiding Judge Helene Gugerty granted pre-trial hearings for the case against Singh, who has pleaded not guilty to the 15-count indictment and denied a plea given by the District Attorney’s Office.
Singh’s attorney James Kousouros said he is engaged in other trials through mid-March but that it may end earlier, delaying the start of Singh’s pre-trial hearings until March at the earliest.
The February date will be an in chambers conference held between the judge and the representing attorneys, not open to the public.
Roslyn resident Singh, 35, was allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road at 95 mph with a blood alcohol count of 0.15 four hours after his arrest and cocaine in his system,
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in a press conference following his arraignment June 26. The speed limit posted in the area of the collision is 40 mph.
His truck struck the Alpha Romeo occupied by the four teenagers, all Roslyn High School boys varsity tennis players, resulting in the death of young tennis stars Drew Hassenbein, 14, and Ethan Falkowitz, 14.
Singh was charged with multiple offenses, including aggravated vehicular homicide, assault, driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired by the combined influence of alcohol and a drug, reckless driving and a felony count of leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, authorities said.
Singh appeared in court on Nov. 2 where he was offered a plea from Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly’s office to the top count of aggravated vehicular homicide within his 15-count indictment, which carries a sentence of 8-1/3 years to 25 years in prison.
He denied the plea and had until Nov. 22 to submit defense motions to the case or accept the plea.
In November, Sing’s attorneys asked to suppress statements he made prior to having his Miranda Rights read, a witness identification made of him at the scene of the crash and barring references at trial to his prior arrests and convictions.
They are also seeking a court order to inspect surveillance camera footage outside of the Jericho firehouse.
Singh faces a maximum of 32 years in prison if found guilty.
