The trial of a former township employee charged with driving while intoxicated after striking and killing a skateboarder with his vehicle has been postponed.
Patrick Doyle had been scheduled to appear in Brick Township Municipal Court on Wednesday, but that appearance was delayed.
After his attorney, William Cunningham, asked for a sidebar in the judge's chambers, Municipal Court Judge Daniel Sahin announced the case would be adjourned to a future date.
Sahin, who was filling in for Judge Robert Lepore, said in court that the adjournment was due to questions over blood evidence in the DWI case. An evidentiary hearing will be conducted to address the defense's questions.
The case stems from a May 11, 2011 accident where Doyle's vehicle struck and killed Anthony Briffa, a 19-year-old Brick resident who was riding a skateboard.
Doyle was charged with DWI a few weeks later. He is not facing any criminal charges in the case, presumably after a grand jury failed to indict him.
BW
8:34 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Unbelievablle. Its amazing how much those connected get away with murder.
Maria Briffa
8:46 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Thanks for staying with us Dan!
Madison
9:00 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Please contact the state attorney general!
Madison
9:01 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
And he's still driving
Typical Obama Voter
9:06 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
dui passing at night on Jordon rd, no registration, possibly speeding, killing a pedestrian. This person should have been charged with numerous motor vehicle violations. Dui, careless and reckless driving, speeding, unsafe lane change, death by auto.....this case is just so wrong on so many levels. I have lived in the area for a long time and I have never seen anyone pass another car on this road at anytime. RIP Anthony Briffa
Jerry Belle
11:38 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
I agree that the lack of an indictment is a travesty of justice. But i have to ask you how long have you observed that roadway? I don't want to question what you've seen or be construed in ANY way of defending Mr. Doyle, yet, I have seen plenty of cars passing others on that roadway at various times of day and night and as recently as the past weekend. People are in a big rush nowadays and the summer traffic adds to the problem.
Joseph Woolston Brick
11:55 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Are you kidding? Cars passing each other on Jordan is a daily occurrence. Double yellow line or not, so is speeding. People treat Jordan Road as if it's their own Raceway Park. Many people have been killed on Jordan, not to mention pets and wild animals and it's all locals doing it. Jordan is rarely used by Benny's. Yet nothing is done. I thought with the last death I might see some action. Lower speed limit, better lighting, sidewalks installed, cops giving out more tickets and NONE of that has happened. Hell we can't even get the guy who committed death by auto,careless driving and reckless driving, speeding, unsafe lane changes to get charged or prosecuted to the full extent. Why did I expect anything different from the County and Brick itself? BUT ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE IF SOMEONE USES A FREE RAMP RIGHT? Can't wait until November 2013!
Catpan
9:36 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Aqualung - what is the source of your facts that back up your statement? Sounds like a lot of conjecture. Prayers to the families affected.
Typical Obama Voter
10:18 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
I said he should have been charged, I didn't say he was guilty. Maybe I should have said he "could have" been charged, not "should have". There are many, many cases where the driver is hit with numerous offenses and then negotiate with the court from there. I wasn't there so I don't know what happened. i do know that he had no registration, he was over the legal limit for alcohol, he was passing a car, he did strike and kill a pedestrian. I also know that he did not do this on purpose because I do know him and he is a good man. This was a terrible accident that could have been avoided if not for his reckless driving. Patty screwed up, a great kid is dead and now Pat should pay his debt to the family and to society.
BrickResident
9:41 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
That's exactly what he did and the mother f'er is getting away with it
Jennifer
10:30 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Amazing. His hired gun is a former prosecutor who went after defendants accused of the same crime--whether there was evidence or not! Guess his soul is for sale????
TiredinBrick
3:01 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Bill Cunningham is a stand up guy, who doesn't deserve a comment like that!! If you knew him which you obviously do not, you would never make that statement!!
Chief Wahoo
10:42 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
at this time, you should know what needs to be done
Jennifer
10:46 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Or maybe the lawyer knows people to downplay the case to the Grand Jury? Since thats where he worked seems totally plasible I feel for Patty, but it's not fair to the decedents family, nor the people he prosecuted!!
Anthony
1:23 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Any one of us would be in prison already. How long are they going to let this kids family suffer? No justice, no closure, no anything. Throw this guy in jail and be done with it. The fact that he's still behind the wheel is an EMBARASSING injustice. He killed someone. KILLED. The kid is not coming back. His parents had to bury their child, and Doyle still gets to hop in his car and head on down to the liquor store to get supplies so he can have a nightcap after another day of avoiding justice. It's disgusting.
BrickResident
9:26 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
I see and speak to Anthony's mother every single week and week after week she cries her heart out not only over the absolute anguish of losing her son but that nothing is being done. And Patty writes her a letter?? For what?? He's disgusting, his behavior has not changed and the eventually he will meet his maker and that will be the time no "position" ANYWHERE is going to save him..
Midget
10:45 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
Let me tell you something... I have a family member who was killed in an auto accident in NH by a 19 year old (he also severely injured his passenger) was speeding not on drugs, not drinking, he lost control of his vehicle and killed the family member in the middle of the day while he was on a business trip not one of our family members lives in the town where he was killed, at least NH was swift the young man is doing 7 years in prison, 10 years parole and 10 years loss of driving privileges.
They didn't make us as a family suffer as long as the Briffa's have been waiting for this man to come to justice I am appalled at the way this case is being handle in this county and this town. My heart goes out to the Briffa family every time I see an article like this. It doesn't matter what type of person Patrick Doyle is he is a man who committed a crime. He should be brought to justice and properly punished for his actions.
Jennifer
7:47 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
I guess as long as your lawyer is a former prosecutor with strong ties to the prosecutor's office, you too can get a get out of jail card!!!
Jennifer
11:32 am on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Brick resident 17. Unfortunately I am extremely familiar with the process as I have a family member doing serious prison time for vehicular homicide. If they feel the victim will become or already is a fatality they go for the higher reading blood test. My particular situation, my LO was underthe limit and had no prior offenses, driving or otherwise,and is serving 6 years in state prison! With everything this guy was supposed to have done HOW was an indictment NOT handed down? I'm telling you with a recent,former prosecutor, ( who viciously prosecuted these exact cases)he was given a card NONE of us would have gotten!