It was a real life courtroom drama for former Law & Order star Michael Moriarty on Thursday when he made his first court appearance on an assault charge.
Moriarty, who appeared a half-hour after court began wearing a leather jacket and jeans, will return to B.C. Provincial Court Dec. 14.
The American actor, who seemed at times unsteady during his brief court appearance, had no lawyer. He told the court an unidentified friend would speak on his behalf, but the matter was quickly adjourned.
The 59-year-old actor's voice was hoarse, his greying hair longer than it appeared when he played assistant district attorney Ben Stone in the hit TV series.
Moriarty said little to reporters outside the courtroom, instead wrapping his arms around the shoulders of two friends who pushed past the media to a waiting taxi cab.
Moriarty, who won an Emmy award for his role in Law & Order, was charged after a woman complained to police last month that she was assaulted in a restaurant on trendy Robson St.
According to the police report, both Moriarty and his companion, Margaret Brychka, had been drinking.
In a long and meandering newspaper interview earlier this week, Moriarty waxed eloquent about his love of wine. Friends told the newspaper they have been concerned about his behaviour.
Moriarty has lived in Canada for several years.
After divorcing his first wife in the United States, he settled in Halifax and remarried.
He was arrested in 1997 for public intoxication after a bar brawl, but not charged.
Moriarty split from his second wife and moved to Vancouver two years ago. He has worked on TV and movie projects here, including a recently completed film entitled Hitler Meets Christ.
He's also recorded a jazz CD and dabbled in politics, including an attempt to found a republican party in Canada. |
