Ex-Yankee Leyritz DUI Trial Began Monday
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - Jury selection began Monday in the trial for Jim Leyritz, the former New York Yankee baseball player accused of driving drunk and killing a South Florida woman in 2007.
If convicted, Leyritz could face a maximum penalty of 15 years for the DUI manslaughter charge.
In December of 2007, police say Leyritz had been driving drunk when he ran a red light and struck Fredia Ann Veitch.
Earlier this year, the Veitch family settled a civil lawsuit with Leyritz. The family received $250,000 and $1,000 monthly for the next 100 months beginning on April, 2011. Now, Leyritz faces a criminal trial at a Broward County courtroom.
Circuit Judge Marc Gold said in a ruling that he will exclude certain evidence from being presented during the trial. That includes evidence showing that Veitch was more intoxicated than Leyritz. Gold will also not allow evidence that suggests Veitch had been receiving text messages at the time of the crash.
