- Hannah Star Esser, 20, allegedly ran over Victor Anthony Luis, 43, for trying to run over a cat in 2022
- DailyMail.com has obtained exclusive photos from her preliminary hearing held today
A 20-year-old actress charged with murder after allegedly mowing down a man she believed had tried to run over a cat appeared in court today for a preliminary hearing.
Hannah Star Esser got into a verbal altercation with Victor Anthony Luis, 43, who she believed tried to run over a cat with his SUV in September 2022 in Cypress, California.
Prosecutors said the two got out of their car and had a dispute, which Esser filmed on her phone.
Esser then got back into her car before making a U-turn and accelerating toward Luis, hitting him with the right side of her car.
Exclusive photos of Hannah Star Esser, 20, who has been charged with the murder of Victor Anthony Luis, 43, have been obtained by DailyMail.com
Esser got into a verbal altercation with 43-year-old Luis, who she believed was trying to run over a cat with his SUV, in September 2022 in Cypress, California.
Prosecutors said the two got out of their car and had a dispute, which Esser filmed on her phone
Esser then got back into her car before making a U-turn and accelerating toward Luis, hitting him with the right side of her car.
According to Orange County prosecutors, Luis was launched onto the hood and windshield before flipping several times and landing in the street. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Esser was arrested after Cypress Police Department officers arrived and taken to the Orange County Jail, where she was charged with murder.
Exclusive photos of her at her pre-trial preliminary hearing have been obtained by DailyMail.com.
She was seen wearing orange jail scrubs as she appeared before Judge Katherine E. Lewis in Orange County Superior Court.
If found guilty, she could face up to 25 years in prison.
According to Orange County prosecutors, Luis was launched onto the hood and windshield before flipping several times and landing in the street. He was pronounced dead at the scene
Her trial date has not yet been announced and her bail was set at $1 million at the time of her arrest
At the time of the arrest, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said, “This action demonstrated a complete disregard for human life.
“The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will ensure that this random act of violence against a stranger is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Her trial date has not yet been announced and at the time of arrest her bail was set at $1 million.
Last year, a GoFundme was set up for Luis’ family, successfully reaching the $20,000 goal. He left behind a wife and five daughters.
It remains unclear whether a cat was on scene at the time and whether any animals were injured during the incident.
