LOS ANGELES – A Florida woman pleaded not guilty yesterday to the attempted murder of singer Barbadian superstar Rihanna after authorities said she fired gunshots at the Grammy- winning musician’s Los Angeles mansion this month.
The woman, Ivana Lisette Ortiz, appeared briefly in Los Angeles Superior Court wearing yellow prison attire. Her attorney entered a plea of not guilty to the 14 charges she faces, which include one count of attempted murder and ten felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm.
Judge Theresa McGonigle rejected a request to reduce Ortiz’s bail, which is set at US$1.875 million. The judge also said Ortiz, 35, could not work as a licensed speech therapist in California while the case was pending.
Ortiz, who is from Orlando, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. (Reuters)
