Russell Crowe Blackmail Defendants Cleared

Two men accused of blackmailing Oscar winner Russell Crowe have been cleared of all charges.

The judge at the trial in Australia cleared Philip Cropper and Malcolm Mercer, both 38, of charges that they demanded £76,000 from Mr Crowe in return for destroying a video which showed him fighting.

Judge John Williams ordered the jury to clear the men, saying prosecutors had failed to prove the charges.

"There seems to be not much doubt in this matter that money was an object," Mr Williams said. "But what (the prosecution) has to prove was there was a demand for money and that demand was supported by a threat."

Mr Cropper and Mr Mercer had faced a maximum sentence of 10 years if convicted of trying to extort money from Mr Crowe. It had been claimed that they had said they would go to the media with the video, which showed Mr Crowe brawling and arguing outside a nightclub in 1999.

However, the judge said that the prosecution had to prove that there was a demand for money and that such a demand was "supported by a threat". That could not be established.

The two men said they are now considering a case against the police for malicious prosecution.

Mr Crowe was not present during the trial and did not
immediately comment on the outcome. He was believed to be in Mexico shooting a film.