Charges dropped in Perez Hilton case
Black Eyed Peas manager Liborio Molina has written a half-hearted apology to gossip blogger Perez Hilton.
The apology is part of an agreement that led to an assault charge against Mr. Molina being dropped Wednesday in court.
The charge came after Mr. Molina allegedly punched Mr. Hilton - whose real name is Mario Lavandeira - outside a Toronto nightclub after the MuchMusic Video Awards in June.
Mr. Molina's lawyer, Mark Sandler, read the written apology outside of the courthouse.
“It said: ‘I apologize for what I did on June 22 of 2009, even though you engaged in highly offensive comments, including a homophobic slur to my clients, I acknowledge that these kinds of issues should not be resolved through a physical response,”' Mr. Sandler read.
Mr. Hilton's lawyers said they were unhappy with the choice of words in the apology, but it was ultimately accepted.
source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/charges-dropped-in-perez-hilton-case/article1367966/
“Although accepting the fact that he shouldn't resort to violence, he attempted to say that there was a precipitating cause,” Mr. Hilton's lawyer, Brian Greenspan, said afterwards. “A sincere apology is a sincere apology.”
As part of the peace bond agreement, Mr. Molina has also agreed not to contact Mr. Hilton except through his lawyer, can't carry any weapons for 12 months, can't come within 100 metres of Cobra NightClub, where the event allegedly occurred, and has donated $500 to Toronto's Red Door Family Shelter.
Mr. Molina arrived in Toronto court for the first time Wednesday, clad in a brown driving cap, white Adidas sneakers, tight green slacks and a red cardigan with a pair of sunglasses tucked into his white T-shirt.
“I think everything that needed to be said has pretty much been said,” Mr. Molina said as he exited the courthouse on Wednesday.
“Yes, I do regret the whole night.”