Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer pleads not guilty to vehicular manslaughter
Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer pleaded not guilty to the charge of vehicular manslaughter in court in California on Thursday (September 26).
READ MORE: The NME Big Read â Red Hot Chili Peppers: âWe feel fresh, like a new bandâThe incident took place in Alhambra, California on March 18, when pedestrian Israel Sanchez, 47, was hit by a car and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital from blunt force trauma.
Klinghoffer, who has also played with Pearl Jam, Janeâs Addiction, Iggy Pop and Morrissey, entered his not guilty plea through his lawyer Blair Berk to the charge of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence. The criminal case is due back in court on October 31.
In addition, Sanchezâs family have also sued Klinghoffer in a civil lawsuit for wrongful death and negligence for his alleged role in the manâs death. The suit alleges that Kinghoffer was on his phone while driving a vehicle with no plates when the incident occurred, and argues that video suggests he was âlikely driving while distractedâ, making âno braking or slowing motion until after he fatally struckâ Sanchez.
Rolling Stone report that a source with knowledge of the case says âno criminal intent is allegedâ in the civil action and that a review of the evidence was established that âthere was no phone involvedâ, however this is disputed by a lawyer representing Sanchezâs family, who claims that Klinghoffer âappears to be holding a phoneâ.
âIf they have exculpatory evidence, itâs never been presented to us,â the attorney Grayson Yoder has said. âAll I can see is what I see on the video. If he says heâs not on his phone, fine. But itâs the middle of the day, heâs coming into an intersection and there are no brake lights on his vehicle, none, not until a man is hit in the crosswalk. Iâm skeptical of exculpatory evidence, and I canât speak to the DA and their charges, but at the end of the day, in broad daylight, he had many, many opportunities for this not to have happened. Thereâs no other word for it besides negligence. We allege that itâs gross negligence.â
The civil case, which is seeking medical costs and damages for pain and suffering, has a hearing set for October 18.
Andrew B. Brettler, a lawyer for Klinghoffer, told Pitchfork in July: âThis was a tragic accident. Josh immediately pulled over, stopped the vehicle, called 911, and waited until police and the ambulance arrived. He is fully cooperating with the traffic investigation.â
Klinghoffer played guitar with the Red Hot Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019, and in 2020, it was announced that he would be leaving the band. He later said that there were no hard feelings between him and the Chilis. He was later replaced by long-time member John Frusciante.
The post Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer pleads not guilty to vehicular manslaughter appeared first on NME.
Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer pleads not guilty to vehicular manslaughter
Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer pleads not guilty to vehicular manslaughter
Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer pleads not guilty to vehicular manslaughter
Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer pleads not guilty to vehicular manslaughter
Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer pleads not guilty to vehicular manslaughter
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