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Family worried driver will go free after deadly crash in Mesa

Posted at 6:39 AM, Dec 07, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-07 11:58:54-05

UPDATE: According to the family, officials upheld Mark Christian Honicky's bond and all release conditions. 

 

A Valley family will fight through grief on Thursday at Maricopa County Superior Court.

The man accused of killing their loved one -- 58-year-old Mark Christian Honicky -- will be in court to see if his bond can be reduced from over $100,000 so he would be able to get out from behind bars while waiting for his trial. His charges are manslaughter and aggravated assault. 

"He killed my wife," said Richard Weiland. "He shouldn't be out."

It was a car accident back in June when police say Honicky slammed into Linda and Richard Weiland's van near Sossaman and Broadway roads.

"It's just so frustrating and angering and confusing that it's even being considered," daughter Klair Weiland said.

The arrest report from Mesa police reports that Honicky was going roughly 65 miles per hour in a 45 miles per hour zone. Police do not believe he put his foot on the brakes at all before the crash. 

"I could see the window," Weiland said, describing the impact. "I could see the lights going as we were spinning - going by...and we come to a rest and I thought, 'What was that?'" 

His wife, Linda, was sitting next to him.

"I kept calling her... I always called her 'gorgeous.'" Weiland described through tears. "There was no response whatsoever. I...told her I loved her." 

Linda was pronounced dead just minutes later. 

Honicky admitted to police he had taken multiple drugs in the hours leading up to the crash, including Heroin, Methamphetamine and Adderall. 

"We don't want this to happen to somebody else," Klair said. "And if he's released, it will happen to somebody else." 

They are afraid history will repeat itself, like the case of Stanley Chu. Chu was arrested in January of 2016 for a deadly DUI crash in Scottsdale. But, just last week, Chu was arrested for another DUI in Scottsdale. 

It pushed ABC15 to ask: who is responsible for keeping tabs on these types of offenders?

The family telling us, they believe it could be a mix of a lot of different things: a lack of education, the court system, probation loopholes, etc. 

We asked the Maricopa County Attorney's Office about Honicky's bond being reduced. They said it is important to remember, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. They have the right to post bond and bail out of jail. But, a judge will decide how high that bond is based on severity of charges. However, no matter how high, defendants must have the right to try and pay it.

ABC15 reached out to Honicky's attorney listed to be representing him in this case on court documents. They did not respond to our request for comment.

The hearing is at 8:30 a.m. to see if Honicky's bond will be reduced.