Red Hot Chili Peppers Rocker Pleads Not Guilty to Manslaughter: Josh Klinghoffer Case Update

Update, Tuesday, October 29, 2024: Josh Klinghoffer, the former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist and current touring member of Pearl Jam, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter without gross negligence in the March 2024 death of a pedestrian. Six months after he allegedly struck and killed a pedestrian crossing a crosswalk in California, Klinghoffer entered a guilty plea in an Alhambra courtroom on Sept. 27 through his attorney, Blair Burke. Associated Press. As the source reported, the 45-year-old rocker did not come to the court session New York Post that it is normal for attorneys to appear without parties involved in misdemeanor cases.

Klinghoffer, who is accused of hitting and killing 47-year-old Israel Sanchez, faces a maximum of one year in prison and a $1,000 fine if convicted. He is not accused of violent intent, but only of not yielding. Klinghoffer’s criminal case is due back in court on October 31.

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In addition to the criminal charges, Klinghoffer also faces a lawsuit over Sanchez’s death filed by Sanchez’s family in July. On Oct. 18, a Superior Court judge threw out most of the lawsuit, ruling that the victim’s daughter, Ashley Sanchez, had failed to prove that Klinghoffer’s actions reached the level of “vile and willful” conduct necessary to seek punitive damages. According to Rolling Stonethe judge said that “the facts here presented by the plaintiff clearly show that the defendant was careless, even negligent. However, negligence is not sufficient to support a claim for damages.’ He added that the plaintiff could file an amended lawsuit, but he would have to add new facts that allegedly show “malicious motive.”

Original story, Thursday, September 26, 2024: Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer faces criminal charges Road accident in March 2024 in which he fatally struck a pedestrian. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, now a touring member of Pearl Jam, will be arraigned in California on Thursday on a charge of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence. KTLA 5 News and Deadline.

The charge is related to an accident on March 18, which was caught on video from a nearby surveillance camera. Klinghoffer is accused of driving a GMC Yukon on Meridian Avenue near West Main Street in Alhambra, Calif., and hitting 47-year-old pedestrian Israel Sanchez as he walked in the crosswalk. Andrew Brettler, Klinghoffer’s attorney, said in an earlier statement that Klinghoffer “immediately stopped, called 911 and remained at the scene until police and EMS arrived.”

According to the report, Sanchez suffered “excruciating” injuries after being “thrown and/or dragged across the asphalt.” wrongful death claim his daughter Ashley Sanchez filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in July. According to court records, Sanchez was pronounced dead at Huntington Hospital at 5:28 p.m.

There has been debate over whether Klinghoffer may have been distracted while driving. Sanchez’s family claimed that the guitarist was distracted while driving and did not brake in time.

“Video of the incident shows that defendant Klinghoffer did not attempt to brake or slow down until he fatally struck Mr. Sanchez, indicating that Klinghoffer was likely driving while distracted,” Sanchez’s family attorneys said in a news release. “Video taken seconds before the incident shows an object between the steering wheel and the driver, believed to be a phone.”

However, Klinghoffer’s legal team denies the charge of distracted driving, and Brettler told KTLA 5 News, “It is clear from the testimony that Mr. Klinghoffer was not on his phone at the time of the accident. It was a tragic incident. There was no criminal intent, and nothing is being discussed.”

Klinghoffer, who spent a decade with the Red Hot Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019 and also played with Jane’s Addiction, Pearl Jam, Iggy Pop and Morrissey, will be charged with vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence in Alhambra, California. Courthouse at 8:30 am PT. He was released on bail.