Manslaughter Trial of Former Yankees Player Jim Leyritz to Begin

Former New York Yankees star Jim Leyritz will go on trial for DUI manslaughter Monday in Florida. The charge stems from a 2007 car accident that killed 30-year-old Frieda Veitch. If convicted, Leyritz faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison.

Both Leyritz and Veitch were drunk when their vehicles collided on December 28 at the intersection of S.W. 7th Avenue and S.W. 2nd Street in Broward County, Florida. Leyritz is accused of running a red light, but the ex Yankees player maintains the light was yellow when he entered the intersection.

Circuit Judge Marc Gold ruled last month that Leyritz’s attorneys cannot present evidence of Veitch’s intoxication or tell the jury she was not wearing her seat belt.

Earlier this year, Leyritz settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Veitch’s family. Leyritz, 46, paid the family $250,000. He also must pay them $1,000 per month for the next 100 months beginning in April 2011.

Leyritz played for the Yankees from 1990 to 1996. He also played for the Anaheim Angels, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. Leyritz retired from baseball in 2000.

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