JUDGE

Non-Jury Trial Slated in Boulevard Crash That Killed Mom, 3 Kids

A man accused of drag racing before a crash that killed a mother and three children two years ago has agreed to have his case heard by a judge rather than a jury.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that prosecutors agreed not to press for a mandatory life term if 24-year-old Khusen Akhmedov of Lancaster agreed to a nonjury trial.

His decision Tuesday came one day after 32-year-old Ahmen Holloman pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and was sentenced to five to 10 years.

Authorities allege that the two were racing as 27-year-old Samara Banks and her children were crossing a north Philadelphia boulevard on foot in July 2013, and Akhmedov's car struck them.

Akhmedov's attorney has argued that he could only be convicted of involuntary manslaughter or vehicular homicide.

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