The comic looks rather unhappy arriving outside the Roybal federal building surrounded by feds, lawyers and a bodyguard to testify at the Pellicano trial this AM. (All photos by Jim Stevenson for DHD.) Story is below...
And even more unhappy leaving when a small swarm of paparazzi descended.
Rock's testimony at the Pellicano trial began at 8:04 AM and finished 13 minutes later. It was uneventful. Looking nervous and somber "as if he were going to his own execution", according to a spectator, Rock was sworn in and said his name so softly that U.S. District Court Judge dale Fischer adminished him to speak up. "Mr Rock, project."
The comic didn't smile during any of his time on the witness stand. The federal prosecutor asked him to look at a printout from law enforcement databases and confirm the name was that of the model who in 1999 claimed Rock was the father of her child. "I guess so," Rock said. Cross-examined by Chad Hummel, the attorney for LAPD Sgt Mark Arneson, who's accused of making illegal government database investigations for Pellicano on behalf of the P.I.'s clients, Rock was clearly irritated to have to answer any questions. "Mr. Rock, have you ever met my client?" Hummel asked.
"I've met a lot of people," Rock shot back.
Asked if he believed the model's claim was false that he was the father of her baby, Rock made clear: "First of all, I don't believe the claim was false. The DNA test proved the claim was false."
Queried about how he learned that the model had filed an assault claim against him, Rock spit out, very slowly, "I received word from Mr. Pellicano." Rock testified that he himself never saw the actual police report but Pellicano had referenced it during a phone call.(After Rock left the packed courtroom, the feds played a one-minute excerpt of a conversation between the comedian and Pellicano in which the P.I. read from a police report filed by the model against Rock.)
Towards the end of the cross-examination, Hummel asked the comic, "You believe you didn't do anything wrong?"
To which Rock replied, "Do you believe I did anything wrong?" After a blink-and-you-missed-it re-direct by the prosecutor, Rock was outta there.
In other Pellicano news, Judge Fischer has told the jury to disregard hedge fund manager Adam Sender's explosive testimony under immunity claiming Pellicano offered to kill quasi-movie producer Aaron Russo. Hummel argued that Sender's claim was prejudicial to his client and other defendants since none are charged with murder.
Ditto, “Anonymous”
Comment by C. — April 4, 2008 @ 11:55 am
Don’t use women as disposable inconvenient sex toys and you wouldn’t have these problems.
Comment by TR — April 4, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
Wow, Chris Rock really doesn’t believe he did anything wrong.
Comment by mp — April 4, 2008 @ 6:10 pm
Someone who hired Pellicano needs to go to jail.
The FBI needs to snag one of the plausible deniability cases on a perjury charge.
Comment by Willem — April 4, 2008 @ 9:51 pm
First of all if someone filed a rape charge against you after a year went by what would you do?
Call your mom?
Cry to your wife?
Alert the kids that something bad happened to daddy when he stuck his dick in a stranger’s pussy.
I’ll tell you what all men would do in Chris Rock’s case. They would have hired anyone that money can buy to save their family and reputation.
Chris did the same as 99% of men who live in the public eye would do. Famous and powerful man and women make mistakes and would pay even an Anthony Pellicano to correct that that mistake.
This is a Character flaw of most human begins. We are all sinners.
I’ve known Chris Rock since Eddie Murphy first introduced him to me in 1986. Chris has always been a very generous and kind man off stage. He has reached out to has been actors and comedians to give them work when no one else would. Chris would do this so that his fellow actors and comedians could qualify for Union medical benefits. This is a man we must love and forgive.
I sat across from Chris Rock at Wes Angeles church in 2007. He was there on a Sunday with his lovely wife Malaak. Chris Rock prayed with us at the appropriate times the Minister requested us to reflect upon God and his goodness towards us. Chris prayed holding his wife’s hand.
I say this all to say, if God can forgive us our past sins why can’t we allow other s to be forgiven and not damn them here on Deadline Hollywood.
Chris has never reached out to help me so I get no benefits from saying this but I do have to honor some things about Chris that most people don’t know. He is not only one of the best stand up comics that ever lived. He is also a great man.
Comment by Chris Jackson — April 5, 2008 @ 12:59 am
Why is it that ‘good Christian citizens’ must point out all of our ‘flaws and sins’ after they are the ones to do something that compromizes their own personal morals? It makes me sick to see them try to group everyone together in a big make us guilty and have a forgiveness and prayer orgy.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2008 @ 7:39 am
Chris, If you’re going to scowl, wear sun glasses so you don’t look so weird.
Comment by Oberserver — April 5, 2008 @ 9:13 pm