$4M Bail Ties Up Funds Needed To Fight PCH Crash Murder Case, Defense Attorney Says

MALIBU, CA — The lawyer for Fraser Bohm — the 23-year-old Malibu man accused of killing four Pepperdine University students in a 2023 Pacific Coast Highway crash — argued Friday that Bohm’s $4 million bail is tying up funds the family wants to spend on his defense. A judge refused to cut the amount in half, ruling that bail isn’t meant to free up money for legal strategy, according to reports.

Bohm faces four murder and vehicular manslaughter charges for the deaths of Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams, who were standing on the side of PCH when authorities say Bohm hit them after losing control of his BMW while driving in excess of 100 mph.

Bohm is represented by Alan Jackson, a prominent defense attorney who recently secured an acquittal in the high-profile murder trial of Karen Read in Massachusetts. He's previously defended Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, the New York Post reported.

On Friday, Jackson asked a judge to lower Bohm's bail from $4 million to $2 million. The attorney argued that his client needed to free up funds for what he called an "expert-intensive defense," Court TV reported.

“You’re basically asking me to reduce bond so he can retain private counsel and experts of his choice,” Judge Thomas Rubinson said in response. “That is not a legitimate reason to reduce bail.”

Bohm is out on $4 million bond.

• Read More: Bohm Was Being Chased Before Fatal Crash That Killed 4 Pepperdine Students, Attorney Claims

According to Jackson, the bond company has frozen collateral from the sale of Bohm's parents' home because the bail amount is so high. Reducing the bail would unfreeze the collateral to find a defense that will include accident reconstructionists, human factors experts, psychological evaluations, vehicle event data recorder analysis and road safety analysis, Court TV reported.

The family has exhausted all its assets: They've drained retirement accounts, sold their home and borrowed from friends. Jackson submitted 150 character letters in support of the bail reduction request, Court TV reported.

The judge said Bohm is free to hire another private attorney or seek a public defender if he is unable to afford Jackson's services.

“Believe me when I say … there are many, many defendants sitting in the county jail right now who would love me to reduce their bail so they can hire Alan Jackson or other private counsel. That’s not the way it works,” Rubinson said, according to the Post.

Deputy District Attorney Nathan Bartos noted Bohm's bail amount was previously reduced from $8 million to $4 million.

“He can’t be indigent and afford bail at the same time,” Bartos said.

Bohm is due back in court Oct. 8