Royal topless photo could close tabloid
The French magazine Closer could be shut and a photographer faces jail, prosecutors said Thursday, after the duke and duchess of Cambridge took legal action following the publication of topless pictures of her.
Representatives of Mondadori, which publishes Closer, are being questioned by prosecutors in Paris after they published photographs of the duchess, Kate, sunbathing topless on a private holiday in France last year.
Valerie Suau, a photographer, and her employer, the regional newspaper La Provence, also are under criminal investigation for printing pictures. Kate was not topless in those images.
“The photographer and legal representatives of both companies have been questioned concerning the photographing of a person on private property and the criminal use of these images,” said a spokesman for the prosecutors.
“The maximum penalty for this kind of offense is one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros ($59,000) for individuals,” he said.
“For corporate bodies, the fine is 45,000 euros, cessation of business for five years and public notification of the decision.”
Closer has argued that the photos were shot from a public road.
A court banned Closer from publishing any more of the images, but, since it only applied in France, could not prevent their publication in Italy, Ireland, Denmark and Sweden. The photos were not printed in Britain.
Country star indicted on elder abuse
Police in coastal Georgia say country singer Billy Currington may have videotaped himself chasing a 70-year-old tour boat captain and threatening to “finish him off.”
A police affidavit and search warrant papers filed Thursday in Chatham County Superior Court say officers seized digital video files and photographs from Currington’s waterfront home near Tybee Island.
Currington, whose hits include “People Are Crazy,” was indicted Wednesday on felony charges of making terroristic threats and abuse of an elderly person.
Tour boat captain Charles Harvey Ferrelle told police Currington shouted at him and two passengers when they passed his home April 15. Ferrelle said on the return trip Currington chased them by boat and shouted threats while holding a camera.
Attorney Alex Zipperer says in a court filing Currington denies the allegations.
The birthday bunch
Movie composer Francis Lai (“Love Story”) is 81. Actress-comedian Carol Burnett is 80. Rhythm-and-blues singer Maurice Williams is 75. Actress Joan Chen is 52. Actor Jet Li (lee) is 50. Actor-comedian Kevin James is 48. Country musician Michael Jeffers (Pinmonkey) is 41. Rock musician Jose Pasillas (Incubus) is 37. Actor Nyambi Nyambi is 34.