Stars on witness list
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Sylvester Stallone, Chris
Rock and Garry Shandling were included on a list of
potential witnesses released Wednesday in the federal wiretapping trial of
Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano and four
co-defendants.
Lawyers also completed jury selection in the
case. Opening statements were set to begin Thursday, with Pellicano
acting as his own lawyer.
The witness list compiled by prosecutors
included 127 people, but it was not clear how many would actually testify.
Also named were Brad Grey, chairman and chief
executive officer of Paramount Pictures, and Ron Meyer, president and chief
executive officer of Universal Studios.
Pellicano, 63, is accused of
running a criminal enterprise that wiretapped phones
and bribed police and telephone workers.
Prosecutors said he obtained confidential
information that could be used to gain advantage in divorce, business and other
cases.
Stallone and Shandling
were alleged victims in the case.
Federal authorities previously questioned
Grey, Meyer and prominent entertainment attorney Bert Fields about their
connections to Pellicano.
Fields is also on the witness list.
Representatives of Rock retained Pellicano in a paternity battle, according to court
documents.
Prosecutors estimate Pellicano,
retired Los Angeles police Sgt. Mark Arneson and
former telephone company employee Rayford Earl Turner
collected nearly $2 million from what they say was a racketeering scheme.
Pellicano and
his co-defendants, including Kevin Kachikian and Abner Nicherie, have pleaded not
guilty.