Tommy Lee cleared over child pool death

A US jury has rejected a wrongful-death claim against rock drummer Tommy Lee following the drowning of a little boy during a children’s birthday party at his home.

The Superior Court jury in Santa Monica, California last night took less than three hours before returning the unanimous verdict in the case over the death of four-year-old Daniel Karven-Veres at Lee’s Malibu home in 2001.

The boy’s parents, actress Ursula Karven and TV producer James Veres, sued Lee for wrongful death, accusing him of negligence for failing to have a lifeguard present during the birthday party for Lee’s son Brandon.

Ms Karven testified that she did not know there would be swimming at the party, adding that she would have made sure Daniel took his water wings.

Lee said he did everything he could to ensure the safety of his son’s guests, including requiring that every child who attended have an adult there to supervise them.

Lee’s lawyer, James Baratta, said responsibility lay with the boy’s parents, who did not accompany him to the party, and other people who were supposed to look out for Daniel.

The boy was sent to the party with a caretaker, a German exchange student who can no longer be located. When the caretaker left early to attend a concert, both sides said, he placed Daniel in the care of a nanny who was there to watch other children.

Lee is the former Motley Crue drummer who was once married to TV star Pamela Anderson. The couple have two sons, Brandon and Dylan.