Woman charged with killing NYPD cop in drunk driving accident drank 19 drinks and smoked marijuana hours before crash
During the manslaughter trial of the Long Island woman charged with killing NYPD officer Anastasios Tsakos in a drunken hit-and-run, jurors were shown a video revealing that she had consumed 19 swigs of alcohol and smoked marijuana just hours before the crash.
Prosecutors have claimed that Jessica Beauvais, a 32-year-old woman, consumed several hits from a pipe and drank shots or sips of a cocktail during a 90-minute period while recording her live podcast. Allegedly, she got behind the wheel and hit a veteran cop on the Long Island Expressway in April 2021.
Beauvais proudly admitted to smoking marijuana every day of her life during a seven-minute clip presented to the Queens Supreme Court jury. She still engages in the activity as well.
“I think it’s pretty clear to everyone that I enjoy smoking weed. It’s just a part of who I am, and if you don’t know that by now, then you probably shouldn’t be here.”
Throughout the time-stamped footage, Beauvais can be seen taking shots or sipping from a “strong mixed drink,” according to prosecutors.
Around 2 a.m. on the following day, while directing traffic at the location of a previous accident on the expressway, Tsakos was struck by Beauvais’ 2013 Volkswagen, who then fled the scene, according to prosecutors.
During the trial on Wednesday, Sgt. Robert Denig of NYPD testified that Beauvais was driving at a speed exceeding 81 mph on both the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and the LIE. As she neared the location where the police were investigating a previous accident on the road, she decreased her speed to approximately 56 mph.
According to the police, Beauvais was arrested with a blood-alcohol level of .15, which was almost twice the legal limit.
Last week in court, Irene Tsakos, the widow of the cop, couldn’t bear the testimony of witnesses detailing her husband’s gruesome injuries. She had to leave the courtroom when graphic photos of the scene where her husband passed away on April 27, 2021, were displayed. The emotional breakdown was evident as she struggled to hold back tears.
On Wednesday, when the prosecutors played Beauvais’ podcast from 2021, she displayed minimal reaction. According to officials, the perpetrator who stands accused of the crime also went on a tirade against law enforcement during the podcast. However, the jury was not presented with that particular segment of the recording.
Beauvais faces several charges, including vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, driving while intoxicated, and reckless endangerment. If found guilty, she could potentially receive a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
As Beauvais was escorted out of the 107th Precinct stationhouse in handcuffs following her arrest, she tearfully issued an apology.
Last week, Tsakos’ lawyer, Jorge Santos, argued during the opening statements that Tsakos was not wearing a reflective safety vest and was distracted by a text message on his phone, looking down when the accident happened.
Santos addressed the jury, reminding them of their promise to grant Ms. Beauvais a just and impartial trial. He urged them to maintain an unbiased perspective and approach the case with an open mind.
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