Winona jury considers verdict

The jury in the Winona Ryder shoplifting case has retired to consider its verdict. The six-day trial, during which Ms Ryder did not take to the stand, has finished with closing arguments from both sides and now awaits a verdict.

Describing the defence case as based on "misdirection, accusation, insinuation and speculation", prosecutor Ann Rundle suggested that the actor was clearly guilty. "She came, she stole, she left. End of story," said Ms Rundle, who added that Ryder's defence "could only have been written in Hollywood."

"We have offered you facts. They have presented hype," said Ms Rundle. "We have presented the truth."

Ms Rundle argued that the 31-year-old Ms Ryder cut security tags from clothes and then walked out of the Beverly Hills' store with the clothes and other items last December.

However, Ms Ryder's lawyer, Mark Geragos, claimed that she was the victim of a conspiracy and had been framed by the Saks security staff. He even argued that the scissors with which Ms Ryder is alleged to have cut the security tags had been planted on her.

Despite video evidence in the trial, there is no taped proof that Ryder cut sensor tags from items in the store. The claim that she had done so came from a security guard. However, prosecutors pointed out that while in the dressing room, Ms Ryder sent two store assistants to fetch a soft drink for her. It is claimed that the request was "specifically so she would have all the time and all the privacy to cut tags off and stuff them in her bag."

Ms Ryder denies shoplifting 20 items worth around $5,500 in total. If she is convicted she could face up to three years in prison.