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.