Winona Ryder’s often-delayed trial has begun, and the two-times Oscar nominee will spend today, her 31st birthday, in a Los Angeles courtroom.
The Little Women star was arrested last December in the Beverly Hills branch of the swish Saks Fifth Avenue department store and stands accused of "grand theft, commercial burglary and vandalism". Opening the proceedings, the prosecution said that Winona entered Saks with intent to steal while the defence said the actress “has been wronged and wronged terribly”.
Prosecutor Ms Ann Rundle argued that Winona planned to steal because she entered the store armed with scissors to cut tags off merchandise and tissues to conceal purloined items. She added that Winona had her own “two-for-one bonus programme”, taking one item for every one bought. Ms Rundle also said video evidence would show Winona stuffing various items into bags in the changing rooms.
Defence lawyer Mark Geragos said the incident was a misunderstanding owing to security guards overreacting to Winona’s celebrity status. He claimed that security personnel have repeatedly changed their stories when recounting what they saw and that Winona had been mistreated when being questioned, with security staff actually lifting up her shirt at one point. Geragos also said video evidence would be crucial in proving the actress' innocence.
Winona, wearing a black dress, entered court on the arm of her lawyer and observed proceedings quietly as Saks security manager Kenneth Evans testified that the actress had originally claimed she was shoplifting in preparation for a film role.
The jury includes Winona’s former boss, ex-head of Sony Pictures Peter Guber, as well as two staff members from other major Hollywood studios. Guber said his connection with the actress would not influence him and that he would be “fair and impartial”.
Superior Court judge Eldon Fox has banned jury members from shopping at Saks while the trial, which is expected to last about a week, is on. If found guilty, Winona could face up to three years in prison.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
