The wealthy Texas housewife accused of plowing into and killing a man on a first date while drunk and high claims her expensive high heels got stuck on the gas pedal of her Porsche 911 Carrera.
Kristina Chambers, 34, went on trial Friday for manslaughter in connection with the April 2023 crash that killed 33-year-old Joseph McMullin as he and his date were leaving a Voodoo Doughnut shop in Houston.
Prosecutors allege Chambers had been bar-hopping with friends that night, was four times over the legal alcohol limit, and had small baggies of cocaine in her car and purse, according to the Houston Chronicle.
But her attorney, Mark Thiessen, argued her designer shoes caused the fatal crash.
Thiessen claims his clients expensive Christian Louboutin heels had gotten stuck on the gas pedal of her Porsche as she drover down “one of Houston’s most dangerous curves.”
However, prosecutors Andrew Figliuzzi refuted the argument to the jury — believing Chambers was “itching to show off her sports car” to her two friends inside the Porsche at the time of the fatal wreck.
About an hour after the crash, Chambers registered a blood alcohol level of .301, nearly four times the legal limit, the Houston Chronicle reported, citing medical records.
Audio tech Briana Iturrino, who was on a date with McMullin that night, told the court they’d just left Voodoo Doughnuts around 2:25 a.m. when she saw blinding headlights barreling straight at them.
Iturrino testified that she realized the speedy sports car — estimated to be traveling over 70 mph at the time of impact — was about to make a sharp turn directly toward them.
In the blink of an eye, the Porsche whipped past, missing Iturrino by inches — and when she turned to shout a warning to McMullin, he had vanished.
“I thought he had gotten out of the way, because I couldn’t find him,” Iturrino said.
Iturrino said she felt something brush against her hip, which she first thought was the car, but later realized was McMullin being thrown about 30 feet as Chambers drove on and slammed into a pole.
She then called 911 and a dispatcher instructed her to perform CPR until paramedics arrived, but McMullin died at the scene.
Chambers and her two passengers were injured in the wreck.
The general manager of the nearby Slick Willie’s pool hall, Alfredo Ponce, also testified, telling the court he heard the crash and ran outside to help, the outlet reported.
“I’ve seen so many accidents on that road,” Ponce said. “Every time, I get out and help whoever needs help and is injured.”
Ponce testified that the crash was one of the worst he had seen and said when he reached the sports car to help those inside he remembered it reeked of alcohol.
Chambers was charged with manslaughter in McMullin’s death. She has pleaded not guilty, with prosecutors alleging she was driving at an excessive speed and lost control of her vehicle.
In the two years since her arrest, Chambers’ case has seen a string of legal battles.
A wrongful death lawsuit filed by McMullin’s parents against Chambers in June 2023 remains pending.
The suit also partly blames Chambers’ former partner — hedge fund manager, Xuan Si, who filed for divorce from her just days after she was released on bail — for purchasing the luxury sports car just months before the fatal crash.
However, Si has denied purchasing the sports car for his ex-wife, claiming instead that she bought the car herself using cash from their joint account.
Si also denied that his wife had a drinking problem, and said he had never seen her consume drugs or drive drunk.
Sebastian Lopez — a close friend who was riding with Chambers the night of the fatal crash — described her as an “alcoholic” in his deposition and claimed Si knew she regularly drank and did drugs.
He added that she’d driven drunk “a handful” of times, even after getting the luxury Porsche.
McMullins grieving parents are seeking over $1 million in compensation for their son’s death.
Lawyers in Chambers’ criminal trial have been forbidden from mentioning the explosive claims in the civil lawsuit, which is slated for an April court date.
