Tammy Sytch Attempting To Have DUI Arrest Conviction Thrown Out

As noted before, former wrestler Tammy Sytch was sentenced to over 17 years in prison in November of 2023 after being convicted of the charges against her over a fatal car accident involving Sytch in March of 2022.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that Sytch had filed a motion earlier this month attempting to have her conviction thrown out based on recent court records.

In her motion, Sytch alleged that her defense counsel rendered “ineffective assistance” by failing to investigate and present evidence concerning Julian Lasseter’s pre-existing medical conditions, toxicology and “possible alternative causes of death.” Sytch also claimed that through civil discovery, it was learned that Lasseter had a “substantial and long-standing medical history” including coronary artery disease, stenosis and other serious cardiovascular and internal medical conditions. Sytch also stated that the toxicology records revealed that Lasseter had Adderall and Cialis in his system and he had suffered fractured ribs consistent with CPR having been administered to him at the scene.

Sytch argued that these records “raise a material medical question whether emergency life-saving measures, pre-existing vascular disease, toxicology findings, a spontaneous medical event, or another medical circumstance contributed to or caused the aortic injury, hemorrhage, and death.”

Sytch also claimed that since her defense didn’t properly investigate this or present a qualified expert evidence regarding Lasseter’s medical situation, it resulted in her being convicted. Sytch also claimed that there was reasonable probability that would have harbored reasonable doubt about the cause of death and her being acquitted of the homicide offense had a failure to investigate not occurred.

In the motion, Sytch also argued that her defense also failed to learn that Assistant State Attorney, Ashley Terwilliger was married to the physician, Zachary Terwilligee, who had declared Julian Lasseter’s death. Sytch claimed that this created a conflict of interest in her case.

Sytch also claimed that her attorney provided “ineffective assistance” by not learning of the relationship between the Terwilligers. Sytch stated “Had counsel exercised reasonable diligence, counsel would have discovered the discrepancy, sought full disclosure, investigated medical causation, and litigated the conflict issue before trial or before Defendant entered any plea. There is a reasonable probability that the outcome would have differed if counsel had uncovered and litigated the omitted information. At a minimum, Defendant would have had a meaningful opportunity to investigate the identity and role of the physician, the prosecution’s medical-causation evidence, and the prosecutor’s potential conflict.”

In her motion, Sytch claimed that “The evidence concerning the decedent’s medical history, toxicology, CPR related trauma, and the prosecutor’s marital relationship to the physician constitutes newly discovered evidence warranting post-conviction relief. Sytch also claimed that due to lack of funds, she was unable to have counsel who would have discovered all of these facts that have now been unearthed post-conviction.

Sytch is also asking for the State of Florida to respond to the matter and be granted a new trial or other post-conviction relief.

Johnson reported that Volusia County Circuit Court Judge Christian Miller filed an interim order dismissing the motion on October 21. In his ruling, Miller stated that Sytch’s motion was “facially insufficient” and failed to comply with the requirements needed under the Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure.

Miller also issued a warning to Sytch that if she was successful in having her original negotiated plea cast aside, the State would no longer be bound by it and she could be “exposed to any legal sentence that could be imposed if she is convicted of the charges.” This would result in a longer sentence of up to 26 years instead of the initial 17 years and 6 months if convicted again.