Attorney for Man Who Drove Wife, Kids Off Cliff Says He’s ‘Good Man’ [Video]

An attorney for Dharmesh Patel — the man accused of driving his Tesla off a California cliff with his family inside — called him a “good man” and “decent human being” with “zero criminal history” as his legal team continues to argue against jail time.

Patel was charged with three counts of attempted murder in January 2023 after allegedly driving his family’s car off a 250-foot cliff at Devil’s Slide with his wife Neha Patel and their two children — an 8-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son — inside. (Authorities previously told PEOPLE that both parents were injured in the crash, their daughter was hospitalized and their son was left with “bumps and bruises, but no injuries.”)

Both his wife and his legal team have advocated against jail time and instead want mental treatment for Patel.

During a hearing held in Mental Health Diversion Court in a San Mateo County courtroom on Friday, May 10, Patel’s family and a judge heard closing arguments as his defense attorney …