Pubdate: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2014 The Toronto Star Contact: http://www.thestar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456 Author: Daniel Dale Page: GT4 MAMMOLITI SAYS ORGANIZERS NOT TO BLAME Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti has formally retracted a Tuesday statement that blamed two drug-related deaths at a weekend music festival on organizer INK Entertainment and its chief executive. INK and CEO Charles Khabouth had threatened to sue over his claim that they were a negligent "responsible party" to the drug-related deaths of VELD Music Festival attendees Annie Truong-Le, 20, and Willard Amurao, 22. Mammoliti issued a second statement Friday, nearly a full day after the deadline set by INK's lawyer. "Despite media reports, I have not been contacted by any representatives or members of INK Entertainment. I would, however, like to retract my comment directed to INK Entertainment and Charles Khabouth in my previous statement," Mammoliti wrote. "It was not my intent to name them as directly responsible or negligent parties relating to the very tragic deaths of 2 people. Based on previous comments made by the organizers claiming security at these events is always top notch, I felt a level of outrage at hearing of 2 deaths and 13 hospitalizations occurring at the most recent (electronic dance music) event." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom