The Court of Appeals has ordered the filing of criminal charges against actor Richard Gutierrez in connection with a 2009 car accident in Silang, Cavite that killed his personal assistant.
In a decision dated July 19, the appellate court’s 11th division, overturned two resolutions issued in 2010 by the Department of Justice dismissing the charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide filed against the actor by Lorayne Pardo, widow of Gutierrez’s assistant, Norman Pardo.
The ruling reinstated the Sept. 28, 2008 resolution issued by the provincial prosecutor of Cavite that recommended the filing of charges against the actor.
The decision, penned by Justice Stephen Cruz, also said Mrs. Pardo’s case was clearly supported by the traffic accident report filed by the Silang town police.
According to the police report, Gutierrez lost control of his Nissan GTR sports car while driving along the northbound lane of the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road in Barangay Putting-Kahoy at 1:30AM on May 22, 2009.
His car crossed over to the opposite lane and toppled a lamp post. The impact killed Gutierrez’s assistant, Norman, while the actor and his bodyguard, Jorge Mustura, survived with minor injuries.
The decision noted that Gutierrez must have been driving at a very high speed because the car was found in a ravine approximately 35 meters away from the lamp post.
article source: interaksyon.com
