The lawyer acting on behalf of Catherine Zeta-Jones' accused stalker has astonishingly accused the actress of driving his client Dawnette Knight to suicide. The preliminary hearing in a Los Angeles court was suspended on Friday in order to have a psychological evaluation of the defendant. The hearing was also halted on Thursday, when attorney Richard Herman said Knight was still groggy after taking sleeping pills because she wanted a good night's sleep. A day later, however, Herman said it was an attempted suicide by an overdose of barbiturates. Herman says, "The real blood is on her (Zeta-Jones) hands." Judge Patricia Schnegg agreed to Herman's request for the evaluation. If Knight is found competent, the hearing will resume on August 16. Knight, who allegedly wrote numerous letters threatening Zeta-Jones, is accused of one felony count of stalking and 24 felony counts of making criminal threats; she's being held on $1 million bail. Knight issued an apology for the letters in June, claiming she had been infatuated with Zeta-Jones' husband, fellow Oscar winner Michael Douglas. Prosecutor Debra Archuleta says in a statement: "We are shocked and outraged that the victim in this case, Catherine Zeta-Jones, is being portrayed in this manner. We believe these statements by defense counsel to be inappropriate."...
- 8/2/2004
- WENN
The American woman accused of stalking Catherine Zeta-Jones has written a letter of apology to the star. Dawnette Knight - who is being held on $1 million bail - has penned a note to the Oscar-winning actress, and her father-in-law Kirk Douglas, apologizing for any "distress" she may have caused. Knight, was arrested at her Beverly Hills home on June 3 and charged with one count of stalking and 24 counts of criminal threats. She admits she is obsessed with Zeta-Jones' husband, Michael Douglas. Zeta-Jones' lawyer Richard Herman released the letter which reads: "I was a confused young woman infatuated with Michael Douglas and have not rational explanations for my actions." Her letter continues to explain she would "have never done anyone any harm and would never harm anyone". She finishes: "It would be a wonderful good deed if you would all forgive me so that I can go back to college to finish my studies in child psychology." Knight, 32, is being held in custody and could receive a prison sentence of up to 19 years if convicted.
- 7/1/2004
- WENN
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