The sentencing hearing for a South Florida musician involved in a deadly 2010 hit-and-run crash will continue Thursday, when the judge is expected to make a ruling.
Carlos Bertonatti, 32, faces a maximum of 35 years in prison after he pleaded guilty in the crash that killed cyclist Christophe LeCanne on the Rickenbacker Causeway in Key Biscayne.
Bertonatti's brother Miguel Bertonatti took the stand Wednesday, but invoked his right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment.
Miguel Bertonatti was expected to help his brother after he admitted Monday in court that he had secretly used his brother's identity when he received more than a dozen traffic citations over the years, according to The Miami Herald. Prosecutors were seeking to use Carlos Bertonatti's reckless driving history against him, the newspaper reported.
Instead, Miguel Bertonatti pleaded the Fifth Wednesday and broke into tears under questioning. Although he invoked his right to remain silent, he answered some questions from the defense, affirming he did not have a license between 2005 and 2013.
After his attorney asked to speak with him during questioning, Miguel Bertonatti began to plead the Fifth again.
Police say Carlos Bertonatti hit LeCanne, who was riding his bike in the bike lane, and drove off with LeCanne's bike still under his car for nearly three miles. His blood alcohol level was .122, over Florida's legal limit of .08, authorities later said.
Carlos Bertonatti -- charged with DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident and resisting arrest without violence -- pleaded guilty to every charge except leaving the scene of a crash.
Local
The hearing will continue Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
More Local Stories:
