Скачать или смотреть US: HEIDI FLEISS TRIAL VERDICT

(3 Dec 1994) English/Nat
Heidi Fleiss was convicted in a Los Angeles court Friday of three counts of pandering, as her sensational trial came to a close. The so-called "Hollywood Madam" now faces a mandatory prison sentence of at least three years, but her lawyers plan to appeal.
Heidi Fleiss slammed the table in front of her and buried her head as the guilty verdict was handed down. Called the "Hollywood Madam", Fleiss was convicted of running a prostitution ring that catered to the rich and famous.
The seven-man, five-woman jury found Fleiss guilty on three of the five pandering charges against her. They deadlocked on the remaining counts, and a mistrial was
declared on those charges.
Under California law, Heidi Fleiss now faces a minimum sentence of three years in
jail. The maximum sentence is eight years and eight months. Fleiss was acquitted of
the cocaine charges against her because jurors thought she may have been entrapped by police.
Fleiss's attorneys plan to appeal. Anthony Brooklier says
the mandatory sentencing guidelines are unfair in a case like this.
SOUNDBITE:
"I can't speak for the judge of course, but ah, I think we can make a strong argument that Heidi Fleiss shouldn't go to jail at all for this. The problem is that the judge's hands are tied by the mandatory nature of the sentencing requirement that's attached to the pandering statute."
SUPER CAPTION: Anthony Brooklier, Defence Attorney
The trial gained international notoriety because of the nature of Fleiss's clients, rumoured to include some of Hollywood's rich and famous. Observers were anticipating the disclosure of Fleiss's client list in court, but the so-called "black book" was never entered into the case.
One juror says she thinks the clients are just as guilty as Fleiss and should have been prosecuted.
SOUNDBITE:
"Well it's no different than any other kind of a prostitution situation. If you're going to pick up some girl on Hollywood Boulevard and they're gonna, they often arrest the men that are their clients. Why should other people be treated differently?
REPORTER QUESTION: Is it a double standard? Answer: Certainly"
SUPER CAPTION: Sheila Mitrowski, Juror
Mitrowski also says she thinks Fleiss was targeted by police because of the potential sensational nature of the case.
SOUNDBITE:
"I think certain factions of law enforcement went out of their way looking for probably something a lot bigger than they found, and she just got caught in the middle of it."
SUPER CAPTION: Sheila Mitrowski, Juror
Heidi Fleiss is released on bail pending the outcome of her sentencing hearing scheduled for next month. Fleiss also faces a date in federal court on related charges
of money laundering and tax evasion January 25th.

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