An attorney representing the estate of Elliott Smith released a statement today in response to Smith’s girlfriend Jennifer Chiba’s comments earlier this week. In the wake of the newly released coroner’s report, one that revealed details of the singers/songwriter’s death as being inconsistent with suicide, Chiba spoke with MTV.com. “His sister and his parents and everyone close to him knows the truth, so I’m not worried about it,” Chiba said, indicating that Smith’s family sided with her and knew that she was not involved. However, it seems that Ms. Chiba may have taken some liberties and spoken for a family that, in fact, is NOT convinced of her innocence.
“Elliott’s family has every confidence that the ongoing investigation will determine the actual circumstances of Elliott’s death,” read a statement from Smith attorney Conrad Rippy. “Until such time as their investigation has concluded, however, and especially in light of the recently published coroner’s report, neither Elliott’s family nor anyone else can claim to know ‘the truth’ about Elliott’s death, and any statement to the contrary mischaracterizes the family’s position.”
The Smith family will have no further comments on the ongoing investigation.
