KERKORIAN TESTIFIES IN PELLICANO CASE

abc7.com
Aug 20 2008
CA

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian made a rare public
appearance Wednesday. He testified at the federal wiretapping trial
of his former private investigator, Anthony Pellicano, and longtime
attorney, Terry Christensen.

It was a short time for Kerkorian on the witness stand Wednesday. The
attorney, a prominent entertainment lawyer, and Pellicano, the
former "private eye to the stars," are accused of wire-tapping the
conversations of Kerkorian’s ex-wife during a child-support dispute
in 2002.

Billionaire businessman Kirk Kerkorian was escorted out of federal
court Wednesday by attorneys defending his personal lawyer.

The 91-year-old entertainment and gaming mogul was on the stand for
less than half an hour. He testified on behalf of his longtime lawyer,
Terry Christensen.

On the stand, he testified that Christensen had been excellent in
his work for him, adding that he was straightforward and a true
friend. Kerkorian said he’s known Christensen for 30 years.

Christensen and former "private eye to the stars" Anthony Pellicano
are facing wire-tapping and conspiracy charges.

Kerkorian was asked by the defense if he knew his ex-wife’s
conversations with her lawyers during child-support hearings were
beign wire-tapped. Kerkorian answered "no."

Pellicano was already convicted on more than 70 felony counts,
including wire-tapping and racketeering in another case. In the case
involving Kerkorian’s lawyer, Kerkorian himself is not facing any
criminal charges.

Christensen’s attorneys are contending that Pellicano was not hired
to wire-tap Lisa Bonder Kerkorian’s conversations, but to find out
who the actual biological father of her daughter is. It later turned
out that Kerkorian was not the father.