Last Wednesday, September 23, the entertainment press interviewed Richard Gutierrez during the premiere night of Echo, the Hollywood film adaptation of Sigaw, a horror movie he starred in last 2004. Among the questions posed was his opinion on the Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Homicide case filed against him by the Cavite Prosecutor's Office last September 18.

The case was filed before the Municipal Trial Court in Silang, Cavite almost two months after Lorayne Pardo filed a formal complaint against Richard, in connection with the death of her spouse Nomar Pardo last May 22 when the car Richard was driving met an accident.

According to the actor, what the public needs to understand is that he's ready to face the court since it was not his intention to kill Nomar.

"Lalaban ako dahil alam kong hindi ko naman ginusto yung nangyari. Wala akong criminal intentions o wala akong binalak na ganun kaya for me, willing ako to fight it out in court," Richard said.

The actor added that his camp did their best to prevent the case from reaching the courts:

"We tried our best to talk to them, to settle things, pero ayaw talaga nila eh, so wala akong magagawa."

"HE SHOULD BE MORE ATTENTIVE".  At the Abbas Law Firm's press conference on Thursday morning, September 24, in Greenhills, San Juan, Atty. Firdausi I.Y. Abbas, legal counsel for Lorayne Pardo, implied that this statement by the actor shows his ignorance of the case against him.

The lawyer said Richard does not know he may be sentenced guilty by the courts even if he did not have the "criminal intent" and "malice" to cause the death of his personal assistant.

Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code states that "any person who, by simple imprudence or negligence, shall commit an act which would otherwise constitute a grave felony, shall suffer the penalty of arresto mayor in its medium and maximum periods."

"There is not even malice required! Ito pure negligence. We believe and we don't doubt it na hindi niya ginusto yung nangyari. Hindi niya ginusto na may magkaaksidente, at lalong-lalo na, na hindi niya ginusto na mamamatay yung kanyang kaibigan na si Nomar," Atty. Abbas asserted.

The issue in this case, he added, was Richard's "reckless driving," not  "criminal intent."

"But the point is that kung nag-ingat lang siya, hindi nagkaroon ng aksidente. That's the issue here. At sabi nga ng mga piskal, he was recklessly imprudent, he was negligent. Kaya nga sa bilis ng pagpatakbo niya ng kotse, naputol yung Meralco post, naputol yung tatlong coconut trees, pagkatapos tumilapon si Nomar sa likod na ng kotse," he said.

Atty. Abbas added that it is time for Richard to focus on his case, and start talking to his lawyers.

"Dapat this time he should be more attentive... kausapin niya na nang mabuti yung mga abugado niya," Atty. Abbas said. "Dapat mapaliwanag sa kanya na hindi hinahanap sa kanya yung criminal intent o even malice. Basta lang he was negligent. Kung nag-ingat lang siya, eh walang aksidente. At walang namatay."

ANNABEL'S MESSAGES. Atty. Abbas also answered Richard's statement about the case reaching the courts because Lorayne's camp did not agree to an amicable settlement. The lawyer said an amicable settlement could have been agreed upon had Annabel Rama, Richard's mother, continued with their previous "lump sum" agreement, and had she not sent Lorayne "hurtful" text messages. (Click here to read related story)

Atty. Abbas showed the media copies of the messages. One read, "Ang pangit mo kasing pangit ng ugali mo. Wala kang utang na loob. Bastos nagpasulsul ka kay Wilma."