Families of GCU students left waiting as judge removes herself before murder sentencing

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge removed herself from a second-degree murder case on Friday, just before sentencing.

Vincent Acosta pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the deaths of three Grand Canyon University students: Magdalyn Ogden, 18; Abriauna Hoffman, 18; and Hunter Balberdi, 19. In October 2022, Acosta, allegedly under the influence, drove the wrong way on I-17 and collided with the students' vehicle, killing all three.

Family and friends of the victims filled the courtroom, only for the hearing to last less than three minutes as the judge announced her recusal without explanation.

In August, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office reached an agreement with Acosta, in which he pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree murder.

According to the plea agreement, each count of second-degree murder carries a potential sentence of 18 to 22 years in prison.

Earlier this week, it became apparent that Maricopa Superior Court Judge Pamela Dunne planned to recuse herself from Friday’s scheduled sentencing after the victims’ families were informed that sentencing might be delayed.

"The court does need to recuse and have a new judge assigned. The court does extend apologies to everyone on both sides who traveled here today for this, and given the legal nature of this, because this court's no longer going to be on the case, I don't think it's an appropriate form for any comments, because this court will not be keeping his case at this point," Dunne said on Friday.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Families of GCU students left waiting as judge removes herself before murder sentencing