Fatal wrong-way murder trial set years after freeway crash

Fatal wrong-way murder trial set

By Michelle Durand Daily Journal Staff

After more than two years in custody and racking up roughly $1 million in medical bills, the Pacifica man charged with murder for the death of his passenger in a high-speed chase with police may finally go to trial.

Joseph Boldt, 22, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and evading police stemming from the March 16, 2003 crash on Highway 280. Boldt’s close friend Bobby Luke Kleinheinz, 20, died at the scene and he was severely injured himself. The men were allegedly under the influence of crystal methamphetamine and had a warrant for failing to appear in drug treatment when Millbrae police tried pulling their vehicle over. Sgt. Marc Farber chased them 18 miles south on the northbound side of Interstate 280. The chase ended when Boldt’s Nissan truck slammed into another vehicle, injuring the other driver and ejecting Kleinheinz. The chase also caused two other car accidents and led to claims against the Millbrae Police Department and civil lawsuits against the parties involved.

Boldt was ordered to return to court Aug. 3 to begin a jury trial. It is the latest in a number of scheduled court hearing dates; the others were continually postponed due to attorney scheduling conflicts and Boldt’s own injuries. With both prosecutor Sean Gallagher and defense attorney Mara Feiger now freed from a recently settled murder trial, both may be ready to proceed come summer.

Boldt, who is still wheelchair-bound because of a wounded and infected leg, could still face amputation. He had been in custody at San Mateo County Jail since his arrest but once his medical bills hit $1 million, a judge released him on his own recognizance with the caveat he remain at the hospital.

By the time Boldt answers to his criminal charges, a civil lawsuit filed by Kleinheinz’s mother may be settled. Maxine Mercier unsuccessfully filed a claim against the city of Millbrae; her civil suit is now scheduled for July.

Three weeks ago, Girish Wadhwani, 30, received $3.15 million to settle his suit against the city of Millbrae. Wadhwani was seriously injured when Kleinheinz slammed his truck into the San Francisco man’s car.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle [at] smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 104. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters [at] smdailyjournal.com.