Judge allows high-profile DUI death suspect to go to Haiti, then changes her mind
Tags: Beruch Zegeye, Judge Karen Miller, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Yonas Zegeye
| Friday 22 January 2010 4:20 pm
DUI death suspect Beruch Zegeye, who allegedly killed a pizza deliveryman after partying with classmates from the exclusive Benjamin School in September 2008, received permission from the court system that has yet to decide his fate to travel to Haiti to join the earthquake recovery effort.
Criminal Court Judge Karen Miller rescinded her permission four days later without explanation, according to court documents.
Outraged Page2Live readers found out in September that Zegeye’s case, which includes allegations of booze and pills use on a yacht owned by golf legend Jack Nicklaus before Zegeye’s Porsche SUV slammed in the back of two cars, was practically at a standstill on its first anniversary.
What’s more, the 19-year-old’s house arrest had been quietly lifted, and he routinely traveled to New York City to attend Pace University while his legal team in Palm Beach County postponed court hearing after court hearing.
Now, with a plea conference scheduled for April, Zegeye — the son of a St. Marys Medical Center neurosurgeon — had the cojones to ask to travel to Haiti. With government buildings flattened in last week’s earthquake, it’s obvious that Haiti’s administration, police and judiciary would be incapable to extradite Zegeye back to the United States if he decided to remain there.
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“Obviously, he was believed to be a flight risk since he was under house arrest,” said TV legal analyst Michelle Suskauer, a Benjamin School mom. Suskauer, a criminal lawyer, is not involved with the case. “The judge and the state signed off on his travel despite the fact the young man is facing a substantial penalty. He has unlimited resources and a clear incentive to disappear. Haiti would be a perfect place.
“But the judge changed her mind, and she has every right to do so.”
The official reason for the travel request was for Zegeye to accompany his dad, Yonas Zegeye, who’s flying to the island to care for earthquake victims.
“Legally, that was a smooth move to make the young man look good,” Suskauer added. “Any lawyer with a young client facing years in prison tries to show the judge that his client could be productive and do good.”
Paul Krommendyk was sitting in his tiny car at a traffic light on PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens when he was killed in the Zegeye crash, which may have occurred at 80 mph. Another man was injured.
Miller, the judge, didn’t return calls to explain why she first allowed Zegeye to travel last Friday then changed her mind over the weekend, before father and son could leave.
Zegeye’s barrister didn’t comment.
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Send him to Haiti and don’t let him back. Now that is justice
I agree with CJ. Let this piece of garbage go to Haiti. If being in HAITI, a hell-on-earth if ever there was one, is where he would prefer to be rather than facing trial here, he’ll be getting punishment without even being convicted (and we all know he’s guilty). I’m ok with that.
Plan busted….this kid would have fled to Israel via Hispanola/Dominican Republic and never be heard from again…..
The kid KILLED a guy out working!
He killed someone in a drunken car crash. He should have an ankle bracelet and be in his house 24/7 till his trial. Why is he being allowed out of state for school? I hope the man who was injured and the family of the poor man killed is going to clean his fathers financial clock.
An absolute tragedy compounded by a permissive judicial system!
What exactly is this little soft POS going to accomplish over there? Probably never got his hands dirty in his life.
This kid should not be out on bail from the beginning. He killed someone while drunk and high.
I agree he will never return to the US if he is allowed outside the states. He should not even have been allowed to go the school in NY. If he and his family are worried about his higher education, hire him a tutor while he on house arrest. Obvisouly, his father can afford a tutor.
No one ever thinks about the victim(s) and their families.
If this little turd goes to Haitii, I am positive Daddy will have him off to a more civilized country that does not extradite in a New Yuk minute. He should not even be on house arrest, he should be behind bars until he is put on trial or pleads out. Shame on the judge for allowing him house arrest and to travel to school in NY. If she wanted to be somewhat lenient, she could have put him on house arrest with an ankle bracelet and he could go to school at PBCC, FAU, or one of the other local colleges. Besides, if he gets what he deserves (i.e. life imprisonment), his education or degree will be the same as toilet paper in jail. Unless he studies criminal law to work on his appeals when Daddy’s money runs out paying the defense lawyers. The victims and/or their families should be beating down the Judge’s door over this.
I think he should be shackled to the ground with a ball and chain. Fed scraps, no clean running water, and let the family of the victims watch him parrish!
House Arrest for an alleged DUI Killer is a too soft. “Plan Busted” you’re right. But lock him up. HEY “Judge Karen Miller” WHAT WERE YOU THINKING. Judge Miller dont let Zegeye’s smooth, slippery, snakey legal team talk you out of your DUTY to this community to administer JUSTICE fairly to all citizens. Judge who is representing the victim, Paul Krommendyk, in your court? WHO IS? It’s YOU bady - put that robe on straight, square your sholders and think like a JUDGE.
Hey guys! He killed a “PIZZA GUY”…Most likely an illegal immigrant, a hard worker…not another pussycat like him!
Now, if we inverted the roles here and the PIZZA GUY WAS THE ONE DRIVING HIS LITTLE TINY CAR AT 80 MILES/HR AFTER ABUSING DRUGS AND BOOZE, I bet with any one we wouldn’t be having this discussion and the PIZZA GUY would be sitting his ass in a cold cell waiting on his lethal injection right now!
SHAME ON OUR LEGAL SYSTEM!
Oh! Yeah….and he is attending UNIVERSITY!
I hope the relatives of the dead guy are planning to SUE the owners of the boat / house where this guy ingested the booze and drugs.
Have the police investigated the source of the drugs, etc. ????
Who bought the booze for these minors ??????
WE deserve better protection from our police and judges !!!!!!
I agree with Ana. This spoiled little turd needs to be in jail awaiting trial!!!!!!!!!! Plea deal? What plea deal? DUI MANSLAUGHTER GUILTY!!! He has no defense!!!! He was drunk, and twisted driving his old mans car!! I don’t give a $hit what his daddy does!! His sorry ass should be in jail for life!!! He made the choice to use drugs, plus drink!! Where was daddy then???????????
JUSTICE FOR ALL! nOT JUSTICE FOR MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#11 Ana The PIZZA GUY was a father of 3 laid off from his job and trying to take care of his family. He happened not to be an ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT but what would that matter anyway. This spoiled little brat KILLED HIM!!!!!!!!!He needs to be in jail and the key needs to be thrown away!!!! Further Education????? Are you kidding, the only ed. this kid should get is HOW TO LIVE IN JAIL FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE 101″
I read somewhere that the judge and the father of this man have been friends for a while now. How is that for justice
Ellen,
Please do not take me wrong on this matter. I am not saying his life was less valuable is actually the other way around…not sure if you read the entire posting! Clearly he was not someone with a “backbone” (family, interests…) otherwise, this little brad wouldn’t be out and about…HOUSE ARREST??Whhat is THAT? HE KILLED A MAN WHILE INTOXICATED and DRIVING! He’s ass should had been in jail from DAY ONE! now…when daddy is finally done paying for all the legal fees involved on his dear baby boy’s case, those three kids will still be there without a father!
No excuses why this boy is roaming around town! The case is clear, but again, justice is blind and GREEEEEEEDY!
What is wrong with this world they keep a man in jail for stealing turtle eggs and a man can kill another human and walk free,send his ass to jail ,spoil kid that think dad will buy way out of trouble..guess he’s right..shame on the judge that allowed this punk to walk free. what judge in his or her right mind cares more about turtle eggs than a mans life? they will be judge one day……
There are 2 justice systems in the US…one for the rich, and one for the poor!
He was charged with this in SEPT of 2008 and the judge let him off the house arrest in Feb of 2009. then gave him permission to go to college out of state for May of 2009. The poor man had not been dead even a year and this young man is enjoying college. This judge needs to be investigated. POOR CHOICES. His plea conference is not till April 2010. This kid will be on social security when he gets his consequences.
isn’t there an “e” in the word “the”?
Jack Nicklaus owns the boat and house where this kid came from (hence he was the “provider.” His father “Dr. Brainsurgeon” provided the kid with a 6,000 lb/ 450 HP weapon (the Porsche SUV) and the pizza guy was working for Domino’s. There are 3 GIANT targets for the families’ lawyers to go after.
Kid needs a 15 year sentence just like anyone else would get for D.U.I manslaughter. My guess is the kid will flee the USA if the court doesn’t let him weasel out of it.
Someone in Boca just got 15 years for a double DUI homicide but the case was a little weak on the over the legal limit issue (guy was a .12 an hour after the accident). If that guy had a good legal team he would be sitting free on the beach right now having a beer!
Dr. Richie Rich’s kid was way past drunk, several witnesses to testify and ZERO remorse. Hopefully he enjoys the “gladiator academy.” His dad can surgically repair his azz for him when he gets out!
He’s got a Daddy with lots of $$$$
and a defense lawyer with alot of pull.
send the kid to Haiti to help a real life mess.
let him expirence major loss of life event.
let him see dead bodies that will stick in his
mind forever…
hopefully it will unspoil the brat ! right David
Bring Daddy and David with you…
Judge Miller is dumber than a bag of rocks!!
FYI “another twist”: his B.A.C was below a .08 when the crash occurred.
And how the hell did he get into a college after being charged with a DUI homicide?????
thanks for fixing the “e”.
Send him to prison and then kick him out to Haiti.
it just shows all that with money you can bye almost any thing and most people and with money in haiti you would live real good. if he would live like the rest of the people and had to live like that till he was dead.send him to haiti with out daddy and daddy money and he would vanish .there is people right here he could help mabe he could help the family of the one he killed.
As usual people just keep accepting all the things that are wrong in society but we have lost our ability to make real changes, all the blogging twittering and bitching amounts to exactly nothing. Rise up people!Organize and revolt against tyranny opression and crooked unjust Govmt. as our forefathers did when this country was founded! Make the radical changes needed whatever it takes! or SHUT THE HELL UP and QUIT YER BITCHEN! The masses are made up of legions of masochists you like being told what to do and how to do it! led like sheep with little to no real understanding of what the hell is actually going on.
Who really thinks he would stay in Haiti? It would only serve as a route to flee elsewhere. He’s a spoiled and irresponsible rich man’s son, trying to avoid the consequences of his drunken, murderous escapade. His lawyers are game players and for reasons best known to insiders, Zegeye was released from home arrest and went on with his life, attending college, traveling, never showing remorse for “allegedly” killing someone.
Why the judge would give permission for him to flee we can’t know. Payoff? Or as someone else suggested, the judge is friends with the young man’s father. Thank goodness someone got through to her, convincing her that letting him leave was going to backfire. But why would she say yes in the first place, then take her 4 days to act?
I want to clear up a few errors in some reader’s posts here: Paul was not a father–he was a son, a brother, and an amazing uncle. He lived next door to his brother and sister in law and their five kids. He was an American. He was born and raised in Iowa, where graduated from college and worked at a rehabilitation center for people with disabilities before moving to Florida. He worked two jobs because he was planning to move back to Iowa to care for his aging parents. He loved to fish and watch sports and have fun. I certainly hope that the courts will bring justice to this case. And I hope that until that time, readers across the country and the citizens of southern Florida will not forget this case. Keep it in the news, in the papers, in your conversations. Remember Paul.
This young man should face the consequences for his actions. Unfortunately, our legal system has fallen from a “speedy trial” and lawyers are able to delay proceedings longer and longer. As terrible as it is, it is not unusual for DUI Manslaughter suspects to be released for a year or more pending their trials. However, they usually have their movements restricted to the county or at least within the state. If this kid had been allowed to Haiti, chances are you would have never seen him again, as his father had already attempted to sneak him out of the country.
As much as I feel for the family and hope justice is served, the attitude of “sue everybody” is killing the legal system. Someone said that the family should sue Jack Nicklaus, Dominos pizza, etc. I can understand bringing a civil suit against this kids’ family, but where does it stop? The victim’s car company? The maker of whatever pills he was taking? Porsche? The shameless loss of life is tragic, but these lawsuits can get out of hand. Here’s to hoping justice is served for the victim’s family.
People , People, People …….
Really want to know ask his defense
lawyer… He has the answer !
Its just a shame he doesn’t have to talk about it.
This is just another story of the wonderful life of the RICH AND SHAMELESS.
This kid’s family first tried a Diplomatic Immunity defense via his mother’s position. That failed. The party/gathering which he left prior to murdering this hard-working man, was held by a Cardinal Newman student who is well known to local authorities. The O’Learys (Nan Nicklaus’s kids) were hosting the “kick-off” party on Grandpa’s boat. One of her sons was featured as a “star” football player in the PB Post. Interesting that he is at Dwyer and not the family alma mater, Benjamin. Grades? Other issues? If they say better academic opportunity, one might question that as the majority, if not every other Nicklaus grandchild attends or attended Benjamin.
Get the State Attorney involved. Enough. You may want to call on the NPB and Juno Polica Depts as well…just a thought.
The circumstances of this case and the overwhelming evidence against the defendant cry out not for revenge but for jutice to be done when Judge Karen Miller sentences the defendant.
The reckless disregard for the lives of others that Beruch Zegeye showed by consuming alchol and then speeding through traffic at nearly 80 mph before killing Paul Krommendyk and seriously injuring Richard Lombardi warrant a just sentence of at least 10-15 years in prison. I hope the courtroom is packed to capacity in April by all who want justice in this case.
i just had a disturbing conversation with a young man currently attending benjamin h.s. who claims zageye was a pos troublemaker his entire life. since the invention of madd and the fact that the state(s) realize how much money is to be made off dui, how many otherwise productive citizens have been subjected to fines, humiliation and possibly incarceration for having a couple of beers after work…..and this punk gets nothing for obvious vehicular homicide…..we should be emailing the judge
At this late date, has the good neurosurgeon gone to aid the victims in Haiti? OR WAS THIS A PLOY TO ENABLE THE KID TO ESCAPE JURISDICTION AND PERHAPS FLY OFF FROM DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO ETHIOPIA AND LIVE WITH RELATIVES FOR REST OF HIS WORTHLESS LIFE?
JOSE WHY DON’T YOU FOLLOW THRU WITH THIS?