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CNN Live Today

Legal Perspective in Winona Ryder Trial

Aired October 31, 2002 - 10:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now an update on a strange but true Hollywood story starring Winona Ryder. Testimony continues today in the actress's shoplifting trial. A Saks Fifth Avenue security guard testified yesterday that she saw Ryder cutting sensor tags off the merchandise. The actress is accused of trying to make off with nearly $6,000 worth of merchandise. She says she's innocent.
For more insight on the Winona Ryder trial, we're bringing back Harvey Levin, reporter, attorney and executive producer of "Celebrity Justice."

Harvey, good morning once again.

HARVEY LEVIN, EXEC. PRODUCER, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Hi, Daryn.

KAGAN: I guess we heard yesterday -- hello, by the way. I guess we heard yesterday about a number of stories that Winona Ryder told when store officials kind of had her held back. They were stories that were inconsistent.

LEVIN: Well, yes, she really mentioned three things. One thing she said, as she was stopped right outside of the door of Sak's was that she thought her personal assistant had paid for the items in question, this again is according to the store security. The second thing is she was researching a movie called "Shop Girls," which is a book written by Steve Martin. And then she changed it from "Shop Girl" to "White Jazz." So again, this is the story from the security person. We haven't yet heard the defense side of that.

We don't even know if Winona Ryder is going to take the stand to explain that.

KAGAN: Are "Shop Girl" and "White Jazz" are those real projects that were floating out there in Hollywood at the time?

LEVIN: As soon as that was said -- can I do shameless self promotion right now?

KAGAN: Please do. Why not?

LEVIN: We actually have started looking into that and we're going to air that on "Celebrity Justice" today. We're looking at the books, we're looking at the movie deals and possible Winona Ryder involvement, and we're developing that story today, and we're actually going to have it on "Celebrity Justice." There are loose connections we've found so far, at least in terms of one of the films, but we'll have the full story later today. KAGAN: We'll look forward to that. Any clue as to how that story is developing, though?

LEVIN: There's a loose connection. I'm not sure if it's tight enough to explain. You know what, Daryn, it's really interesting. We also did a story on the length that some actors will go to get ready for their roles, just method acting, if you will. I don't know if you remember, but right around the time Nick Nolte was arrested, it was reported that he'd used heroin to get into character for a role he was shooting for a recent movie. And there are lots of actors who don't necessarily go to that extreme, but they really get into these roles, and this method acting, ironically, could end up being a defense in Beverly Hills.

KAGAN: No shortage for a show like yours, Harvey. Thanks so much.

What are we looking for today at the trial?

LEVIN: Well, there will be obviously more eyewitness testimony inside the store. But, Daryn, can I tell you something that was interesting in the trial?

KAGAN: Please do.

LEVIN: Yesterday, Winona Ryder was really animated when she sat there with her lawyer. She was taking copious notes, looking around the courtroom, but what really is striking, I think, is there were times when the security people would testify, and literally, her jaw would drop. She would be almost incredulous looking as she would watch this person.

I'm a lawyer, and I've covered a lot of the cases. I think that's dangerous territory, because when somebody kind of emotes that way, you know, they know how this is playing out, because they know what these witnesses are going to say ahead of time, pretty much; it almost looks like overacting, if you will, and that's exactly what she doesn't want to do. I think the best witness is an impassive witness, and I'm really struck that she's kind of getting into the role rather than just sitting back, having a poker face. Honestly, I think that is the only way for somebody accused of a crime to sit, because otherwise, the jury is going to look at it and in some cases, it just reads phony.

KAGAN: We watch today to see whether her lawyer told her to cool it. Look forward to seeing you again Harvey Levin, "Celebrity Justice," appreciate your insight once again.

LEVIN: My pleasure, Daryn.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired October 31, 2002 - 10:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now an update on a strange but true Hollywood story starring Winona Ryder. Testimony continues today in the actress's shoplifting trial. A Saks Fifth Avenue security guard testified yesterday that she saw Ryder cutting sensor tags off the merchandise. The actress is accused of trying to make off with nearly $6,000 worth of merchandise. She says she's innocent.
For more insight on the Winona Ryder trial, we're bringing back Harvey Levin, reporter, attorney and executive producer of "Celebrity Justice."

Harvey, good morning once again.

HARVEY LEVIN, EXEC. PRODUCER, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Hi, Daryn.

KAGAN: I guess we heard yesterday -- hello, by the way. I guess we heard yesterday about a number of stories that Winona Ryder told when store officials kind of had her held back. They were stories that were inconsistent.

LEVIN: Well, yes, she really mentioned three things. One thing she said, as she was stopped right outside of the door of Sak's was that she thought her personal assistant had paid for the items in question, this again is according to the store security. The second thing is she was researching a movie called "Shop Girls," which is a book written by Steve Martin. And then she changed it from "Shop Girl" to "White Jazz." So again, this is the story from the security person. We haven't yet heard the defense side of that.

We don't even know if Winona Ryder is going to take the stand to explain that.

KAGAN: Are "Shop Girl" and "White Jazz" are those real projects that were floating out there in Hollywood at the time?

LEVIN: As soon as that was said -- can I do shameless self promotion right now?

KAGAN: Please do. Why not?

LEVIN: We actually have started looking into that and we're going to air that on "Celebrity Justice" today. We're looking at the books, we're looking at the movie deals and possible Winona Ryder involvement, and we're developing that story today, and we're actually going to have it on "Celebrity Justice." There are loose connections we've found so far, at least in terms of one of the films, but we'll have the full story later today. KAGAN: We'll look forward to that. Any clue as to how that story is developing, though?

LEVIN: There's a loose connection. I'm not sure if it's tight enough to explain. You know what, Daryn, it's really interesting. We also did a story on the length that some actors will go to get ready for their roles, just method acting, if you will. I don't know if you remember, but right around the time Nick Nolte was arrested, it was reported that he'd used heroin to get into character for a role he was shooting for a recent movie. And there are lots of actors who don't necessarily go to that extreme, but they really get into these roles, and this method acting, ironically, could end up being a defense in Beverly Hills.

KAGAN: No shortage for a show like yours, Harvey. Thanks so much.

What are we looking for today at the trial?

LEVIN: Well, there will be obviously more eyewitness testimony inside the store. But, Daryn, can I tell you something that was interesting in the trial?

KAGAN: Please do.

LEVIN: Yesterday, Winona Ryder was really animated when she sat there with her lawyer. She was taking copious notes, looking around the courtroom, but what really is striking, I think, is there were times when the security people would testify, and literally, her jaw would drop. She would be almost incredulous looking as she would watch this person.

I'm a lawyer, and I've covered a lot of the cases. I think that's dangerous territory, because when somebody kind of emotes that way, you know, they know how this is playing out, because they know what these witnesses are going to say ahead of time, pretty much; it almost looks like overacting, if you will, and that's exactly what she doesn't want to do. I think the best witness is an impassive witness, and I'm really struck that she's kind of getting into the role rather than just sitting back, having a poker face. Honestly, I think that is the only way for somebody accused of a crime to sit, because otherwise, the jury is going to look at it and in some cases, it just reads phony.

KAGAN: We watch today to see whether her lawyer told her to cool it. Look forward to seeing you again Harvey Levin, "Celebrity Justice," appreciate your insight once again.

LEVIN: My pleasure, Daryn.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com