Pair deny Stevie Wonder extortion

Two people charged with extortion against singer Stevie Wonder have pleaded not guilty in a Los Angeles court.

District attorney’s spokeswoman Jane Robison said Alpha L Walker and Tamara Diaz entered the pleas today and will return to court in the future for a pre-trial hearing.

Walker is Wonder’s cousin and is accused of trying to extort the Grammy-winning musician over a video that portrays him negatively.

Walker and Diaz, his girlfriend, were arrested in May after receiving US$10,000 from Wonder’s lawyer in a police sting.

Walker’s lawyer said his client simply made a movie about his life and his actions are protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech.