Tuesday, January 3, 2006
Paparazzo vs. Lohan: no charges
The Associated Press
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LOS ANGELES - The photographer whose collision with Lindsay Lohan helped prompt California to adopt an anti-paparazzi law won't be charged with a crime, prosecutors said.
There was no evidence that photographer Galo Cesar Ramirez deliberately crashed his minivan into the 19-year-old actress' Mercedes-Benz, Deputy District Attorney William Hodgman said Wednesday.
"Based upon the damage sustained to both the victim's and the suspect's cars, it appears that although the suspect was most likely driving carelessly when he collided with the victim's car, it was not an intentional assault," Hodgman said.
Ramirez, 24, was one of several photographers following Lohan from a trendy Los Angeles restaurant May 31 when she made a U-turn and their cars collided. No one was hurt.
Lohan said she was trying to get away from the paparazzi when the crash occurred.
Hodgman told the Los Angeles Times a wider investigation prompted by the crash was continuing, adding it was possible that conspiracy charges could eventually be brought against people responsible for orchestrating risky celebrity pursuits.
The crash was credited with prompting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign a measure allowing celebrities to collect large damage awards from paparazzi who harass them.
