|
Vital evidence in PI case
17/02/2006 12:39 - (SA)
Los Angeles - Federal prosecutors said they have obtained taped conversations between an indicted Hollywood sleuth-to-the-stars and clients who hired him to dig up dirt on their rivals.
Anthony Pellicano, who has worked for some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, was charged earlier this month with wiretapping people he was investigating. Prosecutors said on Thursday he also taped conversations with clients, according to an indictment.
"What they have here is dynamite," said Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor and professor at Loyola Law School. "This is very important evidence because you don't have the question of credibility. Tapes don't lie."
The revelation came as federal authorities announced the indictment of top-flight attorney Terry Christensen on conspiracy and wiretapping charges in what was their deepest shot yet into the upper echelon of Hollywood entertainment and legal circles.
Lawyers for Christensen denied the allegations.
Investigations to continue
The indictment quoted alleged conversations between Pellicano and Christensen about a child support battle between Christensen's client, billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, and his ex-wife.
"There is no way, except with my unique techniques, that you would know this," Pellicano is quoted telling Christensen.
On another occasion, Christensen said he was thinking about sending "a little more expense money" to cover the wiretap costs, according to the indictment.
The document did not say how the recordings were obtained or detail other conversations Pellicano may have had with clients. Authorities said their investigation is continuing.
"If there are others who hired Pellicano, and he gave them the inside scoop, those people have to be really nervous right now ... because they have to be thinking about what they said," Levenson said.
An indictment unsealed earlier against Pellicano and others alleged the phones of actors Sylvester Stallone and Keith Carradine were tapped, and the names of more than 60 people, including comedians Garry Shandling and Kevin Nealon, were run through police and government databases in search of information.
'One off' episode
Thus far, 11 people, including Christensen, have been charged in the case.
Christensen, 65, of Beverly Hills helped build a well-respected Los Angeles law firm during his 37-year legal career.
One of his most notable clients was Kerkorian, whose Beverly Hills-based Tracinda Corp is majority owner of casino and hotel operator MGM Mirage Inc.
Christensen represented him in a securities lawsuit against DaimlerChrysler AG in which Kerkorian sought more than $1bn, claiming DaimlerBenz engineered a takeover of Chrysler Corp in 1998, then cheated him out of an acquisition fee by claiming it was a merger of equals.
A federal judge ruled against Kerkorian in 2004 after a 13-day bench trial.
Attorney Jan Handzlik, who represents Christensen, said his client only worked with Pellicano on one case.
"This was a 'one off' episode for Terry, unlike others who may have had long-standing relationships with Pellicano," Handzlik said.
- AP
|
South Africa
