Houston Woman Blames Louboutin Heels for Drunken Porsche Crash That Killed Man on His First Date, Prosecutors Say
HOUSTON, TEXAS — A wealthy Texas woman accused of killing a man on his first date by plowing into him with her Porsche 911 Carrera is now blaming her Christian Louboutin heels for the fatal crash — claiming her foot got stuck on the gas pedal, her attorney told jurors.
Kristina Chambers, 34, faces a charge of intoxicated manslaughter in the April 2023 death of 33-year-old Joseph McMullin, who was walking with his date through Houston’s Montrose neighborhood when he was struck and thrown more than 30 feet into the air.
Defense Claims ‘Freak Accident,’ Prosecutors Say She Was ‘Itching to Show Off’
During her trial last week, Chambers’ lawyer Mark Thiessen told jurors that her designer heels caused the crash along one of Houston’s “most dangerous curves,” calling the tragedy a “freak accident.”
But prosecutors pushed back hard, describing Chambers as an intoxicated driver eager to show off her $100,000 sports car after a night of bar-hopping.
“She was itching to show off her sports car,” said Assistant District Attorney Andrew Figliuzzi, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Investigators said Chambers had a blood-alcohol content of .301, nearly four times the legal limit, when her Porsche veered onto the sidewalk and struck McMullin.
Crash Details: ‘I Thought He Got Out of the Way’
The crash occurred around 2:25 a.m. on April 19, 2023, along the 1200 block of Westheimer Road.
McMullin and his date, Briana Iturrino, had just left a karaoke bar and were walking toward Voodoo Doughnut when Chambers’ speeding Porsche slammed into them. Surveillance footage allegedly shows the car traveling at high speed before hitting McMullin and crashing into a utility pole.
“I thought he had gotten out of the way because I couldn’t find him,” Iturrino testified, saying McMullin’s body was hurled about 30 feet away on impact.
Paramedics pronounced McMullin dead at the scene.
Alcohol, Drugs, and a Night of Bar-Hopping
Prosecutors allege Chambers and her friends had spent the night drinking at several Montrose-area bars — including Lola’s Depot, The Eagle Houston, The Ripcord, and JR’s Bar & Grill — before the crash.
Cocaine was later found inside her Porsche, according to police.
A witness described seeing one of the worst crash scenes ever, telling the Chronicle that wrecks were common on that stretch of Westheimer but “nothing like this.”
Chambers’ ex-husband, wealthy portfolio manager Xuan Si, is also named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by McMullin’s family. The lawsuit alleges that he bought the Porsche for Chambers despite knowing she was an “unfit driver” with a drinking problem.
Victim Remembered and Family Pursues Justice
McMullin’s family has continued to pursue legal action against Chambers, the bars that served her, and others allegedly connected to the night’s events.
“This was an unspeakable tragedy that could have been prevented,” said family attorney Jesus Garcia Jr. “While the grief will never subside, we must hold everyone responsible to ensure something like this never happens again.”
Chambers remains out on bond as her criminal and civil cases continue.
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