Socialite Paris Hilton feared for her life after allegedly receiving death threats last year, a Los Angeles court heard on Tuesday.
Softcore porn producer Joe Francis gave evidence in Los Angeles Superior Court during a preliminary hearing against suspect Darnell Riley, who stands accused of burglary, robbery, carjacking, kidnapping and attempted-extortion.
The Girls Gone Wild producer claims he found Riley trespassing in his Bel Air, California home on January 22, 2004, and was forced to perform demeaning sex acts on himself, which were videotaped, at gunpoint.
Riley also allegedly demanded $1,000 (€845) and Francis’ Rolex watch, before saying: “I need $100,000 (€84,500) cash, or you’re going to die.”
The case spent most of last year unsolved until Hilton gave police vital information that led to the arrest of Riley, claiming she’d heard Riley’s name mentioned in relation to Francis’ attack on the Hollywood party scene.
Francis testified yesterday that his ex-girlfriend Hilton had spoken to him about Riley at a party in late 2004: “Paris Hilton pulled me aside at a party and said, ‘I’m being extorted by Darnell Riley for $20,000 (€16,900) a month and he’s threatened to kill me if I don’t pay.’”
