Diaz snapper busted

2003-11-20 13:48

Los Angeles - A photographer accused of trying to extort $3.3 million from actress Cameron Diaz for photos taken before she was famous threatened to sell them to a European group for $5 million, an investigator testified on Tuesday.

Detective Brian Bennett, an investigator in the district attorney's office, said during a preliminary hearing for John Rutter that the "majority" of the 20 photos depicted Diaz topless.

Bennett testified that Diaz, 31, told him she feared the photos would "hamper her ability to land certain family movie roles", including a role in an upcoming Shrek sequel.

Rutter, 41, has been charged with one count of attempted extortion, attempted grand theft, perjury and forgery. He was released from custody after posting $250 000 bail.

Bennett said he interviewed Diaz in June at her lawyer's Century City office and was told Rutter threatened to sell the photos to a European group that planned to place them on buses, billboards and kiosks to promote Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, which starred Diaz.

Diaz told him the photos were taken in 1992 during a "spec shoot", meaning they were taken only to build her and Rutter's portfolio and weren't meant to be published.

She also said Rutter didn't have a valid photo release giving him rights to sell the photos, Bennett testified.

Rutter, who was arrested on August 12, has said he was negotiating with Diaz and she offered "sums of money" to keep the photos private.

Rutter said he contacted her lawyers to offer them right of first refusal before trying to sell the photos.

Authorities raided his apartment and seized the photos, which are being kept in a safe deposit box.

- AP