Previous Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist denies charges in court.
In March, Josh Klinghoffer, previously a guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, was charged for an accident that resulted in a pedestrian's death. The accusation is that Klinghoffer caused the incident recklessly.
Klinghoffer's attorney pleaded not guilty on his behalf in the court trial. The musician was absent from the courtroom.
The alleged incident occurred when Klinghoffer hit 47-year-old Israel Sanchez with an SUV while turning left, near Los Angeles on March 18. Sanchez had been crossing a zebra crossing. Sanchez was pronounced dead at the hospital later. Klinghoffer was indicted on August 29. He could face up to a year in prison and a fine of $1,000. His lawyer, Blair Berk, chose not to comment.
Sanchez's daughter, Ashley Sanchez, sued the musician in July. She claimed that Klinghoffer didn't have license plates on his vehicle and was using a phone when the accident occurred. The authorities were criticized for not taking action against Klinghoffer for several months following the incident. A source close to the investigation told "Rolling Stone" that no phone was involved in the accident.
"No evidence clearing him presented"
Grayson Yoder, the family's lawyer, disagreed. "If they have evidence clearing him, it was never shown to us," Yoder said to "Rolling Stone." "If he says he wasn't on the phone, fair enough. But it was daytime, he was approaching an intersection, and there were no brake lights on his vehicle until a man on the zebra crossing was hit. I find it hard to believe in exonerating evidence." Klinghoffer had numerous opportunities to prevent this, said Yoder. "There's no other word for it than negligence. We claim it was gross negligence."
Klinghoffer was a guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019, replacing John Frusciante during that period. Frusciante later re-joined the band. Under Klinghoffer's tenure, the Red Hot Chili Peppers produced successful albums like "I'm with You" (2011) and "The Getaway" (2016). He was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2012. After leaving the band led by singer Anthony Kiedis, Klinghoffer worked as a touring guitarist for grunge icons Pearl Jam and various other notable acts.
Klinghoffer's red SUV was involved in the fatal accident. During the court trial, the prosecution argued that the lack of brake lights on Klinghoffer's red vehicle was a clear indication of negligence.
