New York Court Hears “Too Intoxicated” Murder Defense

Three defendants in separate drunk driving cases claim they can't be held responsible for deaths because they were too impaired

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The New York State Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday from three people convicted of murder in separate car crashes while under the influence.

The defendants — Martin Heidgen, Taliyah Taylor and Franklin McPherson — argued their convictions should be tossed on the grounds that they were too intoxicated to understand their threat to public safety.

Heidgen killed a limousine drive and a 7-year-old passenger in a wrong-way collision in 2005 with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .28 percent and McPherson also killed another driver in a wrong-way crash with a BAC of .19 percent. Taylor ran a red light and killed a pedestrian while speeding at 80 mph down a Staten Island street while under the influence of alcohol, ecstasy and marijuana use.

New York’s highest court is expected to issue a ruling on all three cases next month.

[Associated Press]