Ex-Blackhawk Khabibulin’s DUI Trial Postponed

Our Chicago DUI Lawyers wish the best to to ex-Chicago Blackhawks’ goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin in his up-coming DUI Trial.

Khabibulin DUI case put over again

EDMONTON

Another false alarm for Nikolai Khabibulin.

The Oilers netminder showed up in Arizona court Wednesday only to find out his DUI trial had been postponed again.

It’s the second time this month and the fourth time this summer that his trial date has come and gone without a trial.

The next date won’t be set until later this week, but it doesn’t look like it’s coming anytime soon – the judge offered Khabibulin’s lawyer a choice between the end of August (trial by judge) or at the end of September with a jury trial.

Khabibulin’s camp prefers a jury trial, so this thing could drag out into the fall.

The problem now is that the situation is encroaching on the Oilers season. If found guilty in August or September, Khabibulin could face a minimum 30-day jail sentence, which would seriously cut into his preparation for the upcoming season. The maximum penalty in Arizona, which has some of the stiffest drunk driving laws in the U.S., is a six-month jail sentence, which would have grave consequences on Khabibulin and the Oilers.

Khabibulin, recovering from back surgery at the time, was arrested after midnight on Feb. 8 near his home in Paradise Valley after being pulled over for speeding in a black Ferrari. His speed peaked at 70 m.p.h. in a 45 m.p.h. zone, according to the police report.

Khabibulin consented to a blood test and was cited for an extreme DUI after the test revealed his blood alcohol content to be .164 — more than twice the legal limit.

Arizona’s DUI Laws have long been criticized as draconian by DUI Lawyers. Minimum 30 days in jail for a first time DUI? Our DUI Attorneys can understand jail time if Khabibulin had been in an accident or injured someone, but all he did was get stopped for speeding. No other erratic driving was noted. Now Khabibulin is facing the loss of his job. When is enough enough? Apparently never when it comes to DUI arrests.