Higbee, Not Guilty, Speaks to Victims’ Mother

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, New Jersey–Late Monday afternoon jurors in the case of New Jersey vs Robert Higbee found the state trooper not guilty of vehicular homicide in the deaths of Jaqueline and Christina Becker.

The packed courtroom went silent before the verdict was announced. The majority of those in the courtroom were fellow New Jersey troopers in support of Higbee, who has been suspended since his indictment in February 2007.

Maria Caiafa, mother of the teenage crash victims, and her family, sat quietly on the prosecution’s side of the courtroom. After the verdict was announced by the jury foreperson, each juror was polled and asked by Judge Raymond Batten if the verdict just read was their true verdict. All individually replied….yes.

Higbee’s face turned a very bright red as he seemed to nod to each juror as they were polled. Defense attorney Bill Subin spontaneously moved to the center of the courtroom thanking the jurors through his tears.

Once the reality of the verdict was confirmed, the majority of state troopers in the courtroom began to cry, holding their faces in their hands while wiping tears from their eyes.

When the proceedings concluded, Judge Batten took a moment to read what appeared to be a written statement expressing his sorrow for the family of the victims. The Caiafa family remained stoic and silent.

As people left the courtroom, Maria Caiafa and Robert Higbee went alone into a witness waiting room off the courtroom. When they emerged nearly 10 minutes later, Caiafa appeared emotional as she left the small room.

Defense attorney Bill Subin confirmed to a waiting press and media group outside that Caiafa had asked to speak to Higbee alone and he agreed.

Higbee and Caiafa both told the press their talk would forever remain confidential.