ALEC BALDWIN ACQUITTED IN ASSAULT CASE.Byline: Jeannette DeSantis Daily News Staff Writer Actor Alec Baldwin was acquitted Friday of misdemeanor battery on a photographer who had videotaped him and his actress wife, Kim Basinger, as they brought their newborn child home from the hospital. As a Van Nuys Municipal Court clerk A court clerk, in British English clerk to the court or in American English clerk of the court is an officer of the court whose responsibilities include maintaining the records of a court. Another duty is to swear in witnesses, jurors, and grand jurors. read the verdict, Baldwin sat back, placed his hand over his face, slowly shook his head and flashed his famous smile. The 38-year-old Woodland Hills resident said the case taught him a lesson. "From now on I will avoid these situations," Baldwin said outside the courtroom. But he added that he hoped the verdict would deliver a message to those who trail celebrities, that it's "not open season" on them. The handsome leading man of such films as "The Juror juror n. any person who actually serves on a jury. Lists of potential jurors are chosen from various sources such as registered voters, automobile registration or telephone directories. " and "The Hunt for Red October" was charged after he slugged free-lance photographer Alan Zanger outside the star's home. If convicted, Baldwin could have been sentenced to a maximum six months in jail and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. Zanger said he was disgusted with the verdict and does not plan to back out of his $1 million civil lawsuit against Baldwin. Zanger said he believes Baldwin's mega-star celebrity served to sway the jury - made up of eight women and four men. "He was just a sweet-talker and they believed him," Zanger said. "All that glitters All That Glitters (shortened from "All that glitters is not gold", a famous misquotation from The Merchant of Venice, the original line being ) is the name of a number of different works:
On Oct. 26, the self-described stakeout stake·out n. Surveillance of an area, building, or person, especially by the police. stakeout Noun Slang, chiefly US & Canad a police surveillance of an area or house Verb specialist parked his truck across from the couple's home and videotaped them from the inside of his darkened dark·en v. dark·ened, dark·en·ing, dark·ens v.tr. 1. a. To make dark or darker. b. To give a darker hue to. 2. To fill with sadness; make gloomy. 3. camper shell A camper shell, sometimes known as a topper or cap, is a small housing or rigid canopy used as a pickup truck accessory. The housing is usually made of fiberglass or aluminum, and is mounted atop the pickup truck's rear bed. . Zanger testified that Baldwin yelled at him, smeared his windows with shaving cream, punched him and then kicked him in the rear when he tried to leave. Baldwin asserted that the photographer provoked him. "I really can't stand this guy," Baldwin said outside of court. "To me this is something this guy invited. He wanted to have a confrontation, I could see it in his eyes." The jury took less than seven hours over two days to make a decision. Jurors said they found conflicts in the testimony of Baldwin and Zanger, but found the actor more credible. In the recorded 911 call played in court, Baldwin told the dispatcher Software that determines what pending tasks should be done next and assigns the available resources to accomplish it. It may execute other programs or generate a list for human operators to follow. See scheduler. that he and his wife were concerned about photos being taken of their newborn daughter out of fear she could be kidnapped. Juror Denise Fitch, a 28-year-old Sherman Oaks marketing manager, said the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Baldwin didn't act in self-defense (Law) in protection of self, - it being permitted in law to a party on whom a grave wrong is attempted to resist the wrong, even at the peril of the life of the assailiant. - Wharton. See also: Self-defense . The jury's forewoman, Susan Amroyan, 27, a Granada Hills employee of the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Department of Building and Safety, said jurors re-enacted the scuffle and concluded that Baldwin thought Zanger was going to hit him with the camera because the right-handed actor slapped Zanger with left hand. Initially, the jury voted 11 to 1 for acquittal, Fitch said. The lone holdout hold·out n. One that withholds agreement or consent upon which progress is contingent. Noun 1. holdout - a negotiator who hopes to gain concessions by refusing to come to terms; "their star pitcher was a holdout for six , a female juror, was persuaded to vote not guilty after the afternoon break, Fitch said. Jurors denied that Baldwin's fame influenced their decision. Baldwin said he had second thoughts about fighting the misdemeanor charge. "I could have settled," he said, "but then it just didn't make sense because I had a strong belief I had a chance." CAPTION(S): PHOTO Photo Actor Alec Baldwin, left, and his lawyer Charles English wait in a Van Nuys courthouse as jurors deliberate in his assault case. Associated Press |
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