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American Morning

Ryder Case Security: Alibis Inconsistent

Aired October 31, 2002 - 09:31   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.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Security personnel at the department store where Winona Ryder was arrested for shoplifting say the Oscar- nominated actress sort of mixed up her lines when she was confronted. The guards say her alibis were inconsistent.
So what's next as the Hollywood court drama enters its fourth day?

Let's find out from Thelma Gutierrez, who is covering all the action from Beverly Hills.

Good morning -- Thelma.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

You're right, day four of the trial begins in about 3 1/2 hours. On the witness stand again today a security guard from Saks Fifth Avenue who testified that she actually saw Winona Ryder cutting the security sensors off of the clothes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUTIERREZ (voice-over): She's one of Hollywood's premiere stars. At 31, Winona Ryder has twice been nominated for Academy Awards, and she's the winner of a Golden Globe. Now the actress is on trial in Beverly Hills, accused of grand theft, burglary, and vandalism.

ANTHONY SALERO, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: When she testifies, which I'm quite sure she will, to look those jurors in the eye and summon all her star power, all her charisma, and all her formidable acting ability and tell them, I did not do this.

GUTIERREZ: Ryder is accused of stealing more than $5,500 worth of merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue last December. Ryder says she's innocent. Her attorney says she's the victim of an overzealous security team.

MARK GARAGOS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I don't go to trial unless I think we can win.

GUTIERREZ: Defense attorney Mark Garagos accused the head of security of "trying to nail her," a charge the witness strongly denies.

Security guards at Saks say they first noticed Ryder on the store's surveillance cameras, and they began to track her movements. One sales associate testified when Ryder was in the fitting room, she noticed the actress's finger was bleeding. She says Ryder asked for a Coke. The employee went to get it. A second employee testified Ryder then went to another area of the store and asked for a private sitting room behind a curtain. She says Ryder again asked for a Coke. That associate left and returned five minutes later.

Security guard Colleen Rainey testified she looked through the slats on the fitting room door and allegedly saw Ryder take scissors from her purse and cut security sensors off two handbags. She says Ryder bled on a $795 white Calvin Klein bag while trying to cut the sensor off. The guard says Ryder wrapped hats, hair accessories and socks and tissue paper and put them in the shopping bags. When Ryder was confronted, she allegedly told security she was told to do it in preparation for a role in a film called "Shop Girl," though later told security the film was titled "White Jazz."

SALERO: I'm quite sure that Mark Garagos's approach this is going to be that that was a complete lie, that Winona Ryder never said that.

GUTIERREZ: But so far, two Saks employees testified that that's what they heard. They also claim she said she was sorry she did not notify the store first.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Now, that trial resumes again in about 3 1/2 hours. It is expected to continue into next week. If she is convicted of the charges against her, she could face up to three years in prison.

Paula, back to you.

ZAHN: So Thelma, what's the kind of reaction this case is generating out there on the West Coast?

GUTIERREZ: Well, it's interesting. People are just waiting to see what's going on. I can tell you, Paula, I was sitting in the courtroom yesterday, and I saw Winona making eye contact with some of the jurors. The only time you heard any reaction in the court was when some of the prices were read out for some of the items that she had allegedly taken, and then you could hear the collective gasp, because we're talking socks that cost anywhere from $80 to a bag that was $795 -- Paula.

ZAHN: I guess it's first time many of us have been able to see so much of the video. We should make it clear that the video doesn't take you inside the dressing room, right? It only takes you up to the point at which she entered that private room behind the curtain.

GUTIERREZ: Yes, that's absolutely correct. In fact, on that video, you don't see her taking anything at all. You just see her leave the store, and that is the time where she is confronted by three security guards with the store.

ZAHN: Thelma Gutierrez, keep us posted. Thanks so much.

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 - 09:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Security personnel at the department store where Winona Ryder was arrested for shoplifting say the Oscar- nominated actress sort of mixed up her lines when she was confronted. The guards say her alibis were inconsistent.
So what's next as the Hollywood court drama enters its fourth day?

Let's find out from Thelma Gutierrez, who is covering all the action from Beverly Hills.

Good morning -- Thelma.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

You're right, day four of the trial begins in about 3 1/2 hours. On the witness stand again today a security guard from Saks Fifth Avenue who testified that she actually saw Winona Ryder cutting the security sensors off of the clothes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUTIERREZ (voice-over): She's one of Hollywood's premiere stars. At 31, Winona Ryder has twice been nominated for Academy Awards, and she's the winner of a Golden Globe. Now the actress is on trial in Beverly Hills, accused of grand theft, burglary, and vandalism.

ANTHONY SALERO, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: When she testifies, which I'm quite sure she will, to look those jurors in the eye and summon all her star power, all her charisma, and all her formidable acting ability and tell them, I did not do this.

GUTIERREZ: Ryder is accused of stealing more than $5,500 worth of merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue last December. Ryder says she's innocent. Her attorney says she's the victim of an overzealous security team.

MARK GARAGOS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I don't go to trial unless I think we can win.

GUTIERREZ: Defense attorney Mark Garagos accused the head of security of "trying to nail her," a charge the witness strongly denies.

Security guards at Saks say they first noticed Ryder on the store's surveillance cameras, and they began to track her movements. One sales associate testified when Ryder was in the fitting room, she noticed the actress's finger was bleeding. She says Ryder asked for a Coke. The employee went to get it. A second employee testified Ryder then went to another area of the store and asked for a private sitting room behind a curtain. She says Ryder again asked for a Coke. That associate left and returned five minutes later.

Security guard Colleen Rainey testified she looked through the slats on the fitting room door and allegedly saw Ryder take scissors from her purse and cut security sensors off two handbags. She says Ryder bled on a $795 white Calvin Klein bag while trying to cut the sensor off. The guard says Ryder wrapped hats, hair accessories and socks and tissue paper and put them in the shopping bags. When Ryder was confronted, she allegedly told security she was told to do it in preparation for a role in a film called "Shop Girl," though later told security the film was titled "White Jazz."

SALERO: I'm quite sure that Mark Garagos's approach this is going to be that that was a complete lie, that Winona Ryder never said that.

GUTIERREZ: But so far, two Saks employees testified that that's what they heard. They also claim she said she was sorry she did not notify the store first.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Now, that trial resumes again in about 3 1/2 hours. It is expected to continue into next week. If she is convicted of the charges against her, she could face up to three years in prison.

Paula, back to you.

ZAHN: So Thelma, what's the kind of reaction this case is generating out there on the West Coast?

GUTIERREZ: Well, it's interesting. People are just waiting to see what's going on. I can tell you, Paula, I was sitting in the courtroom yesterday, and I saw Winona making eye contact with some of the jurors. The only time you heard any reaction in the court was when some of the prices were read out for some of the items that she had allegedly taken, and then you could hear the collective gasp, because we're talking socks that cost anywhere from $80 to a bag that was $795 -- Paula.

ZAHN: I guess it's first time many of us have been able to see so much of the video. We should make it clear that the video doesn't take you inside the dressing room, right? It only takes you up to the point at which she entered that private room behind the curtain.

GUTIERREZ: Yes, that's absolutely correct. In fact, on that video, you don't see her taking anything at all. You just see her leave the store, and that is the time where she is confronted by three security guards with the store.

ZAHN: Thelma Gutierrez, keep us posted. Thanks so much.

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