USA: Musician Boy George makes brief court appearance on cocaine possession charges in New York

Record ID: 191285

  • Title: USA: Musician Boy George makes brief court appearance on cocaine possession charges in New York
  • Date: 2nd February 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOUIS FREEMAN, BOY GEORGE'S LAWYER SAYING: "Mr. George 'O Dowd steadfastly maintains his innocence in the strongest possible terms and we'll fight these charges and we'll be victorious because he is not guilty." LOUIS FREEMAN WITH MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOUIS FREEMAN, BOY GEORGE'S ATTORNEY, SAYING: "He's a creative force, he's busy with his clothing line, he's working on a book, he's working on an album, he's a remarkably creative individual and he's not happy that these charges are hanging over his head but he's moving forward with his creative work nevertheless."
  • Embargoed: 17th February 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA30RO819Z3NUN7PJRRZ59FU787
  • Story Text: Singer Boy George appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday (February 1, 2006) charged with possessing cocaine in New York and could face a prison term if found guilty.
    George, who made his name in the 1980s as front man for the pop band Culture Club, was arrested on October 7th, 2005 when police, responding to his call to report a burglary, recovered 13 plastic bags containing cocaine, according to the complaint filed by the Manhattan district attorney.
    George, who made his name in the 1980s as front man for the pop band Culture Club, was arrested on October 7, 2005. He was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance weighing more than one-eighth of an ounce (3.5 grams). However subsequent police tests have indicated that it weighed less than one-eighth of an ounce.
    The singer, whose real name is George O'Dowd, is also charged with filing a false report with police.
    His lawyer, Louis Freeman said the singer does not know where the drugs came from or who owned them, and that he is a very social person who has many visitors to his home strongly supports his client's innocence. "We'll fight these charges and we'll be victorious because he is not guilty", he said.
    The case was adjourned until March 8 after Freeman asked the court for more time to prepare his case. No new plea was entered during the brief hearing.
    George left the court without talking with reporters, stopping briefly to hug two female fans who waited outside the courthouse to show support.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register