Malibu, CA — On September 5, 2025, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Thomas Rubinson denied a request to reduce bail for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused in the high-speed crash that killed four Pepperdine University students in Malibu. The ruling came nearly two years after the October 17, 2023 accident that left the community shaken and reignited debate over reckless driving on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Prosecutors allege that Bohm was driving his BMW at over 100 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone when he lost control and plowed into a line of parked vehicles. Those vehicles were pushed into four seniors—Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams—as they walked along the roadway. All four women, members of the Alpha Phi sorority, were killed instantly. The devastating crash initially led to charges of gross vehicular manslaughter, but after further investigation, prosecutors elevated the case to four counts of murder.
Bohm’s bail was originally set at $8 million before being reduced to $4 million. His defense attorney, Alan Jackson, argued last week that the figure should be lowered again, to $2 million, citing the financial strain on Bohm’s family, who have sold their home and exhausted savings to secure private counsel and fund expert witnesses. Jackson, a high-profile defense lawyer who previously represented Massachusetts woman Karen Read in another widely watched vehicular homicide case, told the court that Bohm’s family could no longer sustain the mounting costs of his defense while also covering bail.
Judge Rubinson rejected the request, making it clear that financial hardship in paying for private counsel does not entitle a defendant to a further reduction in bail. He noted that while Bohm, like any defendant, has the right to an attorney, the ability to afford high-priced representation is not a constitutional guarantee. Public defenders are available for those unable to pay, Rubinson explained, and the court would not set precedent by lowering bail to accommodate private legal fees. “There are 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.
The families of the victims expressed relief at the decision. Tracy Rolston, whose daughter Niamh was among those killed, said, “We’re happy it’s not lower. It’s been two years, and we’re just waiting for some justice to be served.”
Bohm, who has pleaded not guilty, remains in custody as he awaits trial. His defense team insists they will press forward, maintaining their focus on exposing what they describe as the “truth” of the case. The next court appearance is scheduled for October 8, 2025, when further motions are expected to be heard.
The ruling highlights a larger legal principle—that bail exists to ensure a defendant’s appearance in court and protect public safety, not to subsidize the cost of private defense teams. With four murder charges on the table and the possibility of life in prison if convicted, Bohm’s case continues to attract national attention, both for its tragic consequences and for the high-stakes legal battles now unfolding in court.
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