A San Diego judge dismissed murder charges against a married couple in the death of their former landlord, Angelica “Gel” Wuerth. The encounter was caught on cellphone video, showing Wuerth falling off the hood of their minivan at an intersection. Cory Skellion no longer faces charges, while Brooklyn Broadway now faces charges of vehicular manslaughter and hit and run. The judge ruled that Wuerth had gotten onto the hood herself during a confrontation.
The couple’s attorneys praised the dismissal, stating that the cellphone video was crucial in showing the truth of the case. The prosecutor did not immediately comment on the ruling. The incident occurred after the couple had an argument with the Wuerth, who had been their landlord. Wuerth ended up on the hood of the minivan, clinging to it as Skellion drove a short distance, while the couple recorded the encounter.
The video captured the couple’s conversation, where they expressed they did not want to hurt Wuerth, showing no malice. The couple drove a short distance before Wuerth fell from the hood and died the next day. Broadway, an active-duty Navy member at the time, faced new charges of vehicular manslaughter and hit and run. Skellion plans to return to Mississippi, while Broadway is due back in court for arraignment.
The couple had recently moved to San Diego from Mississippi, with Broadway working for the Navy and Skellion as a civilian. The case drew significant attention due to the unique circumstances captured on video, leading to the dismissal of murder charges against Skellion. Broadway’s arraignment on the new charges is scheduled for the end of the month.
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