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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 1, 2002
Ryder prosecution rests
The District Attorney's office rested its shoplifting case against actor Winona Ryder on Thursday after defense attorney Mark Geragos aggressively attacked the motives of a key prosecution witness who testified that Ryder walked out of a Beverly Hills, Calif., Saks Fifth Avenue with more than $5,500 of unpaid merchandise.
Geragos accused the former security guard of fabricating statements, embellishing her testimony and selling the story of Ryder's December shopping spree. The accusations, which guard Colleen Rainey denied, drew strong rebukes from Superior Court Judge Elden S. Fox.
In all, the prosecution called six witnesses during four days of testimony, concluding with a Beverly Hills police detective who testified that he heard Ryder say she was trying to get into the character of a kleptomaniac for a film role. The officer was the third witness to mention Ryder giving such an explanation for her behavior. Geragos and Ryder's publicist have suggested that the witnesses twisted a conversation Ryder had with guards about possible future projects.
Geragos plans to present his case beginning today, and the jury could start deliberations early next week. Ryder, 31, accused of stealing more than $5,500 in designer merchandise on Dec. 12, is charged with felony grand theft, burglary and vandalism and could face three years in state prison if convicted.
"24' MAKES STRONG SHOWING: Fox's critically praised drama 24, starring Kiefer Sutherland as counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer, drew a series-best 13.5-million viewers in its debut Tuesday. It was also the night's top-rated show among viewers between 18 and 49, a group sought by advertisers.
Locally, the hourlong, commercial-free series debut attracted about 150,000 households, or 12 percent of the available audience, according to figures from WTVT-Ch. 13.
The strong performance prompted Fox executives to quickly schedule a repeat broadcast for Monday at 9 p.m., replacing a rerun of Boston Public.
Fox has said it may consider other prime time repeat airings if Monday's broadcast goes well.
"BRAM AND ALICE' CANCELED: CBS is saying bye-bye to the sitcom Bram and Alice after four episodes. Bad ratings killed the Sunday night Alfred Molina vehicle. This Sunday, CBS will air The World Is Not Enough.
American director Steven Spielberg will be in Cuba next week for a festival showing eight of his films, including E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Jaws to audiences across the island.
The Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Arts and Industry invited Spielberg to Havana, where he will meet with Cuban filmmakers and visit the International School of Film and Television, which trains students from around the world, said a statement from Martin Levy, the director's spokesman in Los Angeles.
Spielberg will launch the festival by attending the Cuban premiere of his most recent film, Minority Report.
Organizers say the trip has been authorized by the U.S. government under a license for noncommercial film-related cultural exchange and exhibition.