Dying of Hamptons caddy Kevin Somers got here after ‘tussle’ with finest buddy

The loss of life of a caddy grasp from the ultra-exclusive Maidstone Membership in East Hampton was a tragic, alcohol-fueled “calamity” between finest buddies, a lawyer for the accused instructed The Submit.

Kevin Somers, 45, was consuming and hanging out with assistant caddy grasp Marc Dern, 34, at Dern’s residence on Feb. 5 when the 2 argued whereas watching a golf event, based on authorities.

Dern, a married father of two younger sons, is accused of punching Somers and choking him, then allegedly leaving his boss’s physique on his porch for 3 hours earlier than calling 911. He was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree manslaughter.

“These are finest buddies. Their households are buddies. There was quite a lot of alcohol concerned on all people’s half. There was some form of a tussle and this fellow has handed,” Dern’s lawyer, John Ray instructed The Submit. “It’s a calamity of the primary order. Nothing that occurred was intentional.”

The pair had been downing beers and probably arduous liquor whereas watching golf and the Winter Olympics, he stated. The AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am event was performed that day, throughout which Jordan Spieth took a controversial shot off a cliff although his caddie tried to speak him out of it.

Ray insisted he didn’t know if one thing through the event sparked a combat — or if there even was a combat.

“There might need been some roughhousing,” stated Ray, who additionally disputed the competition that Somers was left outdoors for 3 hours.

He stated his shopper cooperated with native police, was let go after which arrested after an post-mortem report revealed a damaged bone in Somers’ neck.

Somers’ was in tough form when an ambulance crew arrived at Dern’s Springs residence, stated Ben Dollinger, an East Hampton city trustee.

“Kevin’s face was so mangled and bleeding that the EMTs who knew him his complete life couldn’t acknowledge him. He misplaced quite a lot of blood,” Dollinger stated.

There was quite a lot of “exaggeration” about what occurred, Ray contended.

Somers was a beloved native whose late father, Jack, was a groundskeeper at Maidstone.

Dollinger, who grew up with Somers, stated they caddied collectively at Maidstone in excessive college and that his pal was additionally the beginning quick cease on the highschool baseball group.

“He’s the nicest man on the planet. He’s by no means touched a drug in his life. He was a stable, stand-up man,” Dollinger stated.

Somers, who has a 17-year-old daughter, was married to Alicia Osborne.

Peter Ambrose, an occasion planner and caterer, stated Somers was “at all times constructive” and “ridiculously match.” He was additionally an enormous fan of “Jeopardy!”

“He raced residence to look at Alex Trebek’s final present,” Ambrose stated.

Those that knew Somers from the Maidstone Membership, the place Jets proprietor Woody Johnson, and Paul McCartney have been members, additionally praised the caddy grasp.

“A superb golfer, Kevin was additionally a level-headed man who knew precisely the best way to handle the individuals he was engaged to be answerable for, the caddies and the members,” longtime Maidstone member Joe Kazickas wrote in a Fb tribute.

A graveside funeral service is scheduled for Somers on Sunday.

Dern was extra of a newcomer to the Hamptons. He moved to Springs two years in the past, inheriting his home after his mom died. He and his spouse, Amanda, have sons who’re 4 and a couple of.

He’s being held on $500,000 money bail and an indictment is anticipated within the coming days.