Casey Anthony Lawyer’s Representing Family Of Victim in 'Miami Beach Party Princess' Case
Feb. 17 2013, Published 9:04 a.m. ET
Jose Baez, the Florida defense attorney who rose to fame by getting Casey Anthony acquitted of murder in the death of her daughter Caylee, has taken on another high profile case.
Baez is now representing the family of a popular South Beach chef who was killed in a horrific hit and run accident last month, and he has filed a civil lawsuit on their behalf.
As Radaronline.com, previously reported, Karlie Tomica, 20, who described herself as a ‘Miami Beach Party Princess Livin’ the Dream’ on her Twitter page, is accused of driving drunk and running over chef Stefano Riccioletti, 49, on January 28.
Police say Tomica was driving a 2007 Dodge Charger in Miami Beach when she hit Riccioletti outside of the Shelbourne Hotel, where he worked, and kept driving. Riccioletti died at the scene.
Karlie was reportedly heading home from her own job at local hotspot Nikki Beach, where she is employed as a part-time bartender when the accident happened.
On Friday Tomica looked distraught as she appeared in a Miami-Dade courtroom to face four charges, including DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, DUI property damage, and resisting arrest without violence.
Days earlier, Baez filed a 16 page civil complaint against her on behalf of the victim’s widow, Patrizia Pesce.
“I feel very deeply for this family and I want to make sure that they receive justice,” Baez told CBS 4 Miami.
Riccioletti's oldest son has also filed a separate lawsuit which claims the management at Nikki Beach allowed Tomica to drink on the job as a bartender even though she is underage.
Initially, Tomica was only charged with leaving the scene of a deadly accident.
But after police received toxicology results reportedly showing the young woman's blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit, she was slapped with additional charges.
The eyewitness who placed the initial 911 call yesterday in court described Tomica as being “really drunk” at the time. According to court documents presented by prosecutors, another eyewitness tried to get Tomica to stop, and when she wouldn’t, followed her car and also called 911. Tomica “actively evaded and even made U-turns to attempt to lose the car following her.” Instead, she drove to her apartment building, and handed the keys to her car to the building’s valet.
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It was, says the prosecutor, a “battered, bloody and flesh smattered vehicle.”
Cops arrived at the building only minutes later, and say they found the self-proclaimed party girl, smelling of alcohol and slurring her words.
