Judge rejects defense that Gaudreau brothers contributed to own deaths

• Judge refuses to throw out indictment in Gaudreau case
• Defense had hoped to have charges reduced or dismissed
• NHL player, brother were killed when hit by car in August

The family of NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew listened in pain Tuesday as lawyers debated whether the men's own drinking contributed to their deaths when they were hit by an allegedly drunken and enraged driver as they cycled at night.

After nearly two hours of argument, a judge agreed the issue was moot under New Jersey criminal law - upholding all of the charges against the driver, including manslaughter and vehicular homicide.