Misdemeanor charges sought against Brandy
The Los Angeles city attorney’s office is reviewing a California Highway Patrol recommendation to bring misdemeanor charges against R & B singer Brandy for her role in a fatal car crash in December.
The singer, whose full name is Brandy Norwood, rear-ended a car on the 405 Freeway on Dec. 30, setting off a chain-reaction crash that killed a woman driver. CHP spokesman Leland Tang said the agency’s investigation concluded felony charges would not be sought because “there was no distraction, no alcohol or signs of intoxication.”
Tang said Norwood, 27, told officers she was traveling about 65 mph when she struck the car in front of her, a Toyota Corolla driven by Awatef Aboudihaj, 38. Aboudihaj’s car had slowed with others, Tang said. Norwood’s Land Rover was heading north in Sherman Oaks, just south of the 101 Freeway.
After being hit by Norwood’s vehicle, Aboudihaj’s car struck another car, then spun into traffic, where it was broadsided by a fourth car. Aboudihaj was taken to a hospital and died that night.
Nicholas A. Velasquez, a spokesman for the city attorney, said he did not know how long the review would take. If charged and convicted, Norwood would face a maximum sentence of a year in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000.
“Should further review point to gross negligence,” Velasquez said, “the matter could be referred to the district attorney” to consider felony charges. But Jane Robison, a district attorney spokeswoman, said that was not likely because the CHP recommended misdemeanor charges. “Typically a potential felony filing would come to us first,” she said.
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