Limp Bizkit lead singer Fred Durst has offered to testify through a video link at the inquest into a young fan’s death at a concert, but said he’s too busy to attend in person, a coroner was told Monday.
Glebe Coroner’s Court is examining the death of 15-year-old Jessica Michalik, who suffered a heart attack during a crowd crush at the January 2001 Big Day Out concert in Sydney. She died five days later.
A band spokesman told the court that a number of managers from Limp Bizkit’s touring group had made written statements and could testify in person, but Durst was too busy to travel to Sydney.
Coroner Jacqueline Milledge welcomed his offer. Last year, she repeatedly asked Durst to testify about what he saw during the rescue of Michalik and others involved in the crush, which happened during Limp Bizkit’s performance.
But counsel for the promoter of the event, Mark Dean, said video evidence was not good enough because witnesses were not bound by perjury laws.
He said statements from the band’s witnesses contained “scandalous” claims including criticism of security staff which were disputed.
Milledge is expected to decide Tuesday whether to accept written statements or allow Durst to testify from the United States.