Josh Klinghoffer , former guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers , pleaded not guilty in the wrongful death trial he faces . The musician did not attend a hearing held on September 26 in the city of Alhambra, located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, California.
On March 18, 47-year-old Israel Sanchez
Represented by his lawyer, Blair Berk, the guitarist pleaded not guilty. The victim's family says Klinghoffer was using his cell phone while driving and that security cameras showed his car had no license plate.
According to sources familiar with the case [ via Rolling Stone ], a review of the evidence was conducted and “no phones were involved” in the accident. However, the victim's family disputes this, alleging that Klinghoffer was using a cell phone shortly before the accident occurred.
Grayson Yoder , the Sanchez family's attorney, says: “If they have evidence for their defense, it has never been presented to us. All I can see is what I see in the video. If he says he's not on the phone, fine. But it's noon, he's entering an intersection, and there are no brake lights on his vehicle, none, until a man is run over in the crosswalk.”
“I am skeptical of excusable evidence and I cannot speak to the prosecutor and his accusations, but ultimately, in broad daylight, he had many, many opportunities to prevent this from happening. There is no other word for it besides negligence. We allege that this is gross negligence,” Yoder concluded.
The process is proceeding on two fronts. The civil case, where the family is seeking assistance for medical costs and damages for suffering, will have a new hearing on October 18th. The criminal case is expected to resume on the 31st of the same month.
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