Obdulia Sanchez, who livestreamed the incident on Instagram, showing her 14-year-old sister’s body after it had been ejected from the vehicle, will have her bail remain at $560,000.
According to Merced County Superior Court Judge David Moranda, Sanchez had a previous juvenile reckless driving case, and his decision was made on recommendations from probation officers.
Ramnik Samrao, Sanchez’s defense attorney, asked that the bail be lowered so that his client could go free pending trial, saying that Sanchez doesn’t have access to the kind of funds that would allow her to post bail.
"That’s just absurd to believe that she would be able to do that, I think this bail is excessive for her, and it should have been reduced," Samrao said outside the courtroom, the Associated Press reported.
He added, "There is the eighth amendment to the constitution that says no excessive bail shall be required. I think this bail is excessive for her."
Samrao also refuted claims that his client did not attempt to assist her sister, saying the video does not show Obdulia calling for help immediately after the crash.
The video shows the Stockton, California woman dancing to music in her car and taking her hands from the steering wheel, and will serve as a key piece of evidence according to prosecutors.
A week ago Sanchez was driving near Fresno when her car swerved and turned over in a field, ejecting and killing her 14-year-old sister, Jacqueline Sanchez. Obdulia continued filming after the crash, showing her sister’s body and saying, "I killed my f****** sister. I know I am going to jail for life I understand that… this is the last thing I wanted to happen alright… I love you, RIP sweetie…If you don’t survive I am so sorry."
According to authorities Obdulia had to be strapped to a gurney after kicking a paramedic in the face, yelling racial slurs and spitting on first responders. Police reports say that she refused and alcohol test, smelled strongly of alcohol, and medical records showed that she was legally drunk at the time of the incident.
Samrao argues that Sanchez’s behavior was due to not wanting to leave her sister’s side.
If convicted on six felony counts including drunken driving resulting in injuries and gross vehicular manslaughter, Sanchez could face 13 years in prison. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Nicandro Sanchez, father of the two girls, spoke in court with the help of a Spanish translator, saying that he feels like he’s lost both of his daughters, and that he had no ill will towards Obdulia for the crash.
"We’re asking that she be returned home or to the home where she was being taken care of," he said.
Harold Nutt, Merced County Chief Deputy District Attorney called Obdulia’s behavior "disturbing and shocking,” calling her a “danger to society,” and arguing that “she doesn’t have a stable home environment or a stable place to go to."
