USA: A SAKS FIFTH AVENUE SECURITY MANAGER DENIES ACCUSATIONS THAT HE HAS VOWED TO 'NAIL' ACTRESS WINONA RYDER OVER AN ALLEGED SHOPLIFTING SPEE

Record ID: 328971

  • Title: USA: A SAKS FIFTH AVENUE SECURITY MANAGER DENIES ACCUSATIONS THAT HE HAS VOWED TO 'NAIL' ACTRESS WINONA RYDER OVER AN ALLEGED SHOPLIFTING SPEE
  • Date: 30th October 2002
  • Summary: BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) PAN EXTERIORS OF SAKS FIFTH AVENUE STORE WHERE RYDER ALLEGEDLY STOLE ITEMS
  • Embargoed: 14th November 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BEVERLY HILLS & LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES / VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA80L7UCASBOPH6RWMK2QQ88SC8
  • Story Text: A Saks Fifth Avenue security manager on Wednesday denied accusations that he had vowed to "nail" actress Winona Ryder over an alleged shoplifting spree at the posh store last December.
    Kenneth Evans, under tough questioning from Ryder's lawyer Mark Geragos, admitted having lunch with a Saks co-worker a few days after the actress's humiliating arrest.
    Geragos has maintained throughout the lengthy legal case that Saks security staff targeted Ryder because they had recognized her early on in their 90-minute video surveillance of her ill-fated trip.
    Ryder denies stealing some 20 items worth about $5,500 (USD) from Saks on Dec. 12. The prosecution alleges she went to the store equipped with scissors and tissue paper with the intent to steal and conceal.
    The video shows the petite actress wandering around the store, struggling to keep hold of several shopping bags while piling merchandise both on top of, and underneath, a large garment bag draped over her arm.
    Evans testified earlier this week that Ryder had told him she was researching shoplifting for a future movie role.
    Two damaged designer tops, two handbags with holes in them and three sensor tags containing material matching other items allegedly stolen by Ryder on Dec. 12 have already been shown to the jury. Evans has said the sensor tags were found some days after Ryder's arrest in the pockets of a coat in the Chanel area of the store.
    A never-before-seen portion of the videotape shown to the jury on Wednesday appeared to show Ryder reaching into her own coat pocket, taking something out, and apparently placing something in or on a coat on display in the Gucci area of the store.
    The sensor tags and the exact date of their discovery have proved a contentious point in the trial, now in its third day.
    Evans admitted on Tuesday (October 29) that his initial statements about finding the tags had been inaccurate.
    Evans on Wednesday produced his own personal file regarding Ryder's arrest, which contained photographs that had not previously been made available to either the prosecution of the defense.
    One Polaroid snapshot shows the "Girl, Interrupted" star looking calmly into the camera while seated in the Saks security office after being detained. It was not clear why the photo had been taken.
    Other pictures showed the clothes, handbags, hair bows and socks Ryder is alleged to have stolen all laid out on a table.
    Ryder, who spent her 31st birthday on Tuesday watching video of her own arrest, could face up to three years in prison if convicted.
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