Pellicano Trial: Chris Rock Testifies
Wearing a tailored black suit, comedian Chris Rock testified yesterday that he hired former private eye Anthony Pellicano to investigate Hungarian model Monika Zsibrita, who claimed he was the father of her child.
It was just one of many celebrity testimonies in the wiretapping and racketeering case against Pellicano and four others. Read more about the case here.
As Rock entered the courtroom, jurors looked at each other and smiled, reports The Hollywood Reporter. When asked to say and spell his name, the funny man was soft-spoken, prompting U.S. District Court Judge Dale Fischer to say, “Mr. Rock? Project. The back of the room needs to hear you.”
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Rock’s testimony lasted about 12 minutes, consisting of mainly “yes” and “no” answers to questions from Asst. U.S. Attorney Daniel Saunders about his involvement with Zsibrita. He said he didn’t remember how much he paid Pellicano for his services in 1999.
When DNA tests later proved Rock was not the father, Pellicano stayed on the case because Zsibrita claimed Rock had sexually assaulted her during their encounter.
In court yesterday, Rock said he thought Zsibrita was “shaking him down.” When asked to explain a shakedown, Rock said, “Someone who was not pregnant with my child claimed to be pregnant with my child and requested large sums of money.”
He testified he never saw any police report or was contacted by law enforcement in connection with the sexual assault charges. “I’m here as a free man,” he said. “I didn’t do anything.”
After his brief testimony, Rock quickly exited the courtroom and prosecutors played a short audio clip of a telephone conversation Pellicano taped discussing the sexual assault charges with Rock. “I don’t want to embarrass you,” Pellicano warned Rock, before telling him of the claims.
I think anyone not wanting to be embarrassed should stay out of show business. Clearly, it’s not for the faint of heart. In fact, it’s brutal.
Image: Chris Rock, Bad Company, Buena Vista Pictures, 2002
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