Winona Ryder stole for film role, court is told

Jurors in Winona Ryder's shoplifting trial were treated to excerpts from a 90-minute security video yesterday, showing the actress pulling expensive designer outfits and accessories off racks at a Beverly Hills department store until she was virtually buried by them.

The footage was accompanied by a running commentary by Kenneth Evans, a veteran security guard at the Saks Fifth Avenue store, who testified that, when challenged, Ms Ryder admitted stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise but said she took it in preparation for a film role.

Mr Evans said that on 12 December last year he and his staff monitored Ms Ryder's movements for 40 minutes before confronting her in the store car park.

Watching her on the in-house security system, he saw her pull item after item off the racks before entering a changing room. Mr Evans said he sent one of his staff into the room after her because there were no video cameras there.

According to Mr Evans, she paid for some items but not for many others. Yesterday, the court was shown two hats and two tops, both with large holes in them that Mr Evans said had been made by the improper removal of security tags.

When confronted, Mr Evans said, Ms Ryder took his hand and politely apologised. "She just said she was doing what her director told her to do in preparation for her role as a shoplifter," Mr Evans told the court. She did not specify the role or name the director.

Mr Evans said he did not recognise her. When he found out who she was, he said his reaction was: "I couldn't care less."

In the video, Ms Ryder could also be seen stuffing socks and accessories into a hat. Contrary to prosecution claims made early on in the case, however, there was no footage of her removing security tags. Mr Evans said four tags were later recovered in a jacket still hanging on its rack.

Prosecutors allege that she went to Saks with intent to steal, bringing clippers to cut security tags off clothing. Ms Ryder's lawyer, Mark Geragos, says she had announced she would put her purchases on her in-store account, and that the store employees are lying.

Ms Ryder, who turned 31 yesterday, faces up to three years in prison if convicted on three charges of burglary, theft and vandalism.