Executive Summary
- A judge ordered George Linard, a U.K. citizen, detained pending trial for a fatal crash in West Deptford, N.J.
- Prosecutors allege Linard fled police at 86 mph before striking and killing 42-year-old Jose M. Martinez.
- Authorities state the defendant was in the U.S. illegally, had previously been deported, and used multiple false identities.
- Linard faces charges of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and eluding police.
A British national accused of aggravated manslaughter remains in custody after a Superior Court judge in New Jersey ordered his detention pending trial, citing a significant flight risk and danger to the community. The ruling follows a fatal high-speed collision in West Deptford Township that claimed the life of a local resident while the defendant was allegedly fleeing law enforcement.
Superior Court Judge William Ziegler denied the release of 24-year-old George Linard during a detention hearing on Thursday. According to court documents and statements from the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, Linard was operating a vehicle at 86 mph in a 30 mph zone immediately prior to the crash. Prosecutors allege that Linard ignored police signals to stop, disregarded a red light, and collided with a vehicle driven by 42-year-old Jose M. Martinez.
Authorities stated that the incident began on November 9 at a gas station in National Park, where officers responded to reports of intoxicated individuals. Police dashboard camera footage reportedly shows Linard fleeing the scene as an officer approached his vehicle on foot. Data recovered from Linard’s vehicle indicated that the accelerator was fully depressed for five seconds leading up to the impact, which occurred approximately 16 seconds after the pursuit began.
Martinez, who was reportedly driving for a ride-share service at the time, was killed in the collision. A passenger in Linard’s vehicle sustained significant injuries, and occupants of a third vehicle involved in the wreck suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Toxicology reports regarding Linard’s blood alcohol concentration are currently pending, according to Assistant Prosecutor Alec Gutierrez.
During the hearing, prosecutors argued that Linard poses a severe flight risk due to his immigration status and history of using false identities. Authorities revealed that Linard, a citizen of the United Kingdom, had been previously deported and was in the United States illegally at the time of the crash. Investigators noted he possessed a fraudulent U.K. driver’s license and has been identified in other jurisdictions under aliases such as Steve Hall, Steve Pike, and Steve Peker.
In addition to the charges related to the crash, Linard faces outstanding charges in Bergen County for drug possession and money laundering. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson confirmed that the agency has filed a detainer seeking his deportation. Defense attorney Harley D. Breite argued for Linard’s release, citing strong family ties and the surrender of travel documents, but Judge Ziegler found the evidence of recklessness and the defendant’s history of evasion compelling enough to warrant continued detention.
Judicial and Procedural Implications
The denial of bail in this case highlights the judiciary’s approach to determining flight risk when defendants lack legal status and possess a history of identity fraud. The compounding factors of an active ICE detainer, outstanding warrants in other jurisdictions, and the severe nature of the first-degree aggravated manslaughter charges create a high threshold for pre-trial release. Furthermore, the involvement of a police pursuit in a fatal crash often triggers rigorous scrutiny under New Jersey’s vehicular homicide statutes and departmental pursuit policies, which are currently under review by the state Attorney General’s office. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
