Rock Star Denies Role in Fatal Car Crash

Rocker Marilyn Manson defended himself against a wrongful-death lawsuit filed against him by the mother of a Los Angeles woman killed in a car accident a year ago after an all-night party at Manson’s house.

In a statement through his Posthuman Records Management label, Manson said the April 1, 2001, accident that killed Jennifer Syme, a Los Angeles record executive, was a tragedy, and that the lawsuit filed this week by her mother, Maria St. John, was a surprise.

“After Jennifer was sent home safely with a designated driver, she later got behind the wheel of her own car for reasons known only to her,” said the controversial rocker, whose real name is Brian Warner.

After leaving Manson’s house at about 6 a.m., Syme crashed her 1998 Jeep Cherokee into some parked cars in the 2100 block of North Cahuenga Boulevard. The 29-year-old was ejected from the car and died at the scene.