Thursday, March 22, 2007

Woody Harrelson’s Tough Luck

Woody Harrelson’s father Charles died recently in prison. He was serving two life sentences for the murder of a federal judge in Texas. He was 69.

Charles Harrelson was convicted of murder in the May 29, 1979, slaying of U.S. District Judge John Wood Jr. outside his San Antonio home. Prosecutors said a drug dealer hired him to kill Wood because he did not want the judge to preside at his upcoming trial.

Charles Harrelson denied the killing, saying he was in Dallas, 270 miles away, at the time.

Woody’s luck got worse when TMZ.com photographer Josh Levine smacked him with as $2.5 million lawsuit. Harrelson allegedly physically assaulted Levine outside a Hollywood nightclub.

According to Levine, when Harrelson showed his hand to the camera as the photographer was shooting the video last summer, he simultaneously shoved the camera into Levine’s ribs and broke the equipment.

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office did not press felony charges, saying footage of the incident didn’t prove Harrelson intended to damage the camera or injure Levine.

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office also declined to file misdemeanor charges against Harrelson.