LOS ANGELES (Jan. 29) - The California Highway Patrol recommended Monday that actress-singer Brandy be charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in a freeway crash that killed a woman motorist last month, a city attorney's spokesman told The Associated Press



http://news.aol.com/enter...0001000001

Police want Brandy charged in fatality

01/29/2007 7:41 PM, AP
Jeremiah Marquez

The California Highway Patrol recommended Monday that actress-singer Brandy be charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in a freeway crash that killed a woman motorist last month, a city attorney's spokesman told The Associated Press.

The CHP referred the matter to the city attorney's office for review, said spokesman Nick Velasquez.

"The office is currently reviewing the case and determining whether the evidence warrants the filing of a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter," Velasquez said.

A message seeking comment from Brandy's publicist, Courtney Barnes, was not immediately returned. Earlier this month, Barnes issued a statement saying Brandy "wishes to publicly express her condolences to the family of the deceased."

Barnes also has said Brandy wasn't under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in county jail and a $1,000 fine, Velasquez said.

Prosecutors couldn't say when they would make a decision about whether to bring a case. If charged, Brandy wouldn't necessarily have to appear in court and could have her lawyer enter a plea, Velasquez said.

Brandy, 27, was driving a Land Rover on Interstate 405 on Dec. 30 when traffic slowed and her vehicle struck the back of Honda driven by Awatef Aboudihaj, 38, according to a CHP report.

Aboudihaj's car hit another vehicle, slid sideways into the center divider and was then hit by another car, the report said. Aboudihaj, a Los Angeles waitress, died at a hospital from blunt-force injuries, according to the coroner's office.

The CHP alleges in a report that Brandy caused the accident by breaking a law against driving at a speed "greater than is reasonable or prudent" or that "endangers the safety of persons or property," according to a part of the report obtained by the AP.

Bill Sayed, an attorney for Aboudihaj's husband, said he supported the CHP's recommendation.

Brandy, who earned a Grammy in 1999, has made five albums. She began her recording career at 14 and acted for film and television, starring on the sitcom "Moesha" from 1996-2001 and most recently as a judge for NBC's "America's Got Talent."

If she was speeding and it was documented she is in some real trouble.

lastdecember said:

This is some scary ass shit!! This is my WORSE WORSE fear as being a motorist...hitting someone and killing them. People make fun of me cause I drive like a grandma, but I'd rather get teased for driving like a grandma then hit someone, I swear this is my worse fear.

I feel awful for her. I swear just last week the sun was in my eyes and I almost smoked a student. I stopped because there was a crossing sign.

lonelygurl8305 said:

I agree, this is why i never made an attempt to get a license, though living in NYC you really dont want to drive because you cant get anywhere because of traffic. My biggest fear was hitting someone or something.

Very sad story

veronikka said:

yes it is

CinisterCee said:

wow, your use of words...

DAMN, cold shit Just today I was cussing this CRAZY ASS BITCH out b/c she was driving like a maniac on the freeway - I was making a lane change & the bitch just rolled up SO FAST & swerved out to prevent me from making the lane change! I had to get back over so we wouldn't collide I mean how RUDE to see me getting over & box me out on purpose She was riding up on everyone's ass, weaving in & out - if she didn't cause an accident today she will in the very near future. People do fucked up shit behind the wheel (not Brandy, I know it was an accident, I'm just saying people in general do foul shit sometimes)...

CalhounSq said:

It's CRAZY driving in the Bay Area,huh? I can't believe how people drive around here.

SoulAlive said:

We don't have it nearly as bad as NY or LA but mf's get me in a serious rage, especially when driving in SF

CalhounSq said:

You live in the Bay Area?

gemini13 said:

CalhounSq said:

Whoa, I did not know that!!!

CalhounSq said:

People drive like ANIMALS here!

gemini13 said:

Me either. SOunds like someone needs to come out for a gathering!

superspaceboy said:

you all are tripping...bob, we've talked about forcing calhounsq to come to one of our ghettogethers...speaking of which, isn't it time for another dinner?

and...i think this is a normal step to take after an accident of this nature...i just think the press is making a big deal about it...

isn't there an war going on? cant they overreport on that?

lonelygurl8305 said:

and once again this is why i don't even know how to drive. people also think i'm crazy that i haven't learned but i am scared shitless of something like this happening. you can only control your own vehicle and you know there are some crazy ass drivers out there!

lonelygurl8305 said:

and once again this is why i don't even know how to drive. people also think i'm crazy that i haven't learned but i am scared shitless of something like this happening. you can only control your own vehicle and you know there are some crazy ass drivers out there!

gemini13 said:

I do too!

link to MSN's "Brandy sued for $50 million" headline:

http://music.msn.com/musi...7>1=7702

CalhounSq said:

while i have sympathy for the family of the decest a lawsuit this quick and for that much is rather striking.

I doubt she has $50 million. And you don't ask for a certain total.

lonelygurl8305 said:

Yeah....that's a scary ass thought. You keep driving the way you do.....better safe than sorry. Your driving skills can be flawless, but you still have to look out for others driving.

You guys realized that after Brandy's car hitted that lady from the back that the woman also hitted another car and her car slided to the center divider and another car hitted the woman too, that explained why that woman's car was so badly damage. I believed if Brandy's car was the only that hitted that lady then that woman would probably survived. That poor woman must been terrified and panicked too and I could only imagined what she went through during her final minutes were before went to the hospital.

I am not trying to take the responsibility off of Brandy but...

My heart goes out to the family and this poor woman had one child too as well but $50 million .

superspaceboy said:

Oh my god..... I want move out to Cali. someday and I think about that a lot.....driving in traffic out there.

superspaceboy said:

CalhounSq said:

they sure didn't waste no time filing this lawsuit!