Winona Ryder Case Stalled
Winona Ryder's preliminary hearing, in which the judge was to hear evidence of her alleged shoplifting spree and set a trial date, was postponed Monday.
The hearing, which has been postponed four times so far at the request of Ryder's defense team, was delayed again after she required medical attention when she was hit in the arm by a paparazzo's camera. Beverly Hills Superior Court Judge Elden S. Fox apparently felt the swelling warranted medical attention and postponed the hearing until Thursday. Mark Geragos, Ryder's attorney, later reported that Ryder's arm had been broken.
Monday's hearing, which was set to start at 8:30 AM did not start off as planned. Geragos appeared in court without Ryder. Judge Fox said he had enough stalling and ordered Geragos to call his client. Ryder arrived an hour later and took her seat as the first witness was called by the prosecution. Kenneth Evans, a Saks security guard, was the first witness and described Ryder's suspicious behavior. He said he watched her via security cameras as she spent approximately a half hour trying on different designer clothes before leaving the store with almost $5,000 worth of unpaid merchandise.
As reported, Ryder has pleaded innocent to four felony charges - grand theft, commercial burglary, vandalism and possession of a powerful painkiller, oxycodone, without prescription. Ryder is free on $20,000 bail. Attorney Geragos tried unsuccessfully to get the judge to remove the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office from the case, stating they had "an ax to grind" against the actress. He also asked the judge to close the hearing to the public, a request that was eventually denied. The "arm breaking" incident occurred during recess and the bailiff escorting Ryder was inadvertently hit in the head by another camera. The judge was quoted as saying, "I would appreciate it if [reporters would give] a little more courtesy."
Monday's hearing, which was set to start at 8:30 AM did not start off as planned. Geragos appeared in court without Ryder. Judge Fox said he had enough stalling and ordered Geragos to call his client. Ryder arrived an hour later and took her seat as the first witness was called by the prosecution. Kenneth Evans, a Saks security guard, was the first witness and described Ryder's suspicious behavior. He said he watched her via security cameras as she spent approximately a half hour trying on different designer clothes before leaving the store with almost $5,000 worth of unpaid merchandise.
As reported, Ryder has pleaded innocent to four felony charges - grand theft, commercial burglary, vandalism and possession of a powerful painkiller, oxycodone, without prescription. Ryder is free on $20,000 bail. Attorney Geragos tried unsuccessfully to get the judge to remove the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office from the case, stating they had "an ax to grind" against the actress. He also asked the judge to close the hearing to the public, a request that was eventually denied. The "arm breaking" incident occurred during recess and the bailiff escorting Ryder was inadvertently hit in the head by another camera. The judge was quoted as saying, "I would appreciate it if [reporters would give] a little more courtesy."
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