Kristina Chambers is accused of a drunken crash that killed Joseph McMullin on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in Houston. (Chambers' mugshot from Houston Police Department, McMullin's photo from his obituary; crash scene photo from CBS Houston affiliate KHOU 11)
A wealthy Texas housewife who is accused of plowing into a man on a first date with her $100,000 Porsche 911 Carrera as he strolled down a sidewalk is blaming her Christian Louboutin heels for causing the fatal wreck, with her lawyer claiming in court that her foot got stuck on the gas pedal.
"This is one of Houston's most dangerous curves," said Kristina Chambers' defense attorney, Mark Thiessen, during her criminal trial last week, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Thiessen called what happened to 33-year-old alleged victim Joseph McMullin a "freak accident," while prosecutors told jurors it was nothing of the sort.
"She was itching to show off her sports car," said Harris County Assistant District Attorney Andrew Figliuzzi.
The prosecutor noted how Chambers, who had a .301 blood-alcohol content — roughly four times the legal limit in Texas — was allegedly drinking and driving with two of her friends when the April 2023 crash occurred. One of the pals, Sebastian Lopez, described her as an "alcoholic" in a deposition as part of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by McMullin's family, which is still pending, and claimed she regularly did drugs.
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
Chambers' ex-husband, a wealthy portfolio manager identified in the lawsuit as Xuan Si, allegedly purchased the Porsche that Chambers was driving just months before the deadly incident. He did this despite "knowing she was an unfit driver" with a drinking problem, the lawsuit alleges.
Chambers, 34, faces a criminal charge of intoxicated manslaughter in connection with McMullin's death. She allegedly visited four bars on the night of the crash – Lola's Depot, The Eagle Houston, The Ripcord and JR's Bar & Grill — which have been named in the wrongful death lawsuit. A manager at a pool hall near the crash site testified last week about rushing to help McMullin and seeing one of the worst scenes he's ever witnessed.
"I've seen so many accidents on that road," Alfredo Ponce said, according to the Chronicle.
McMullin had just finished a night of karaoke with his date, Briana Iturrino, and the pair were walking through Montrose to get a snack at Voodoo Doughnut when Chambers allegedly slammed into McMullin at around 2:25 a.m. as they walked along the 1200 block of Westheimer. Iturrino reportedly testified last Friday about what she saw.
"I thought he had gotten out of the way because I couldn't find him," Iturrino said, noting how McMullin was hurled about 30 feet away from her upon impact.
Surveillance video allegedly shows Chambers speeding in her Porsche before striking McMullin and throwing him into the air before she crashes into a pole. Prosecutors say drugs, including cocaine, were found inside the vehicle. Chambers and two passengers in the Porsche were hospitalized before Chambers was arrested.
McMullin was declared dead by paramedics just minutes after the crash.
"This was an unspeakable tragedy that could have been prevented by any number of factors that evening, all that would lead to Joseph continuing to live a happy and thriving life," said lawyer Jesus Garcia, Jr., who represents McMullin's family, in a 2023 statement to reporters. "While the grief of the McMullin family will never subside, we must act against all parties who bear responsibility to ensure a senseless tragedy like this never again occurs."