Ex-'Hollywood Madam' Heidi Fleiss Sobs in LA Court

Yaho! News ^ | 8/5/03 | Dan Whitcomb - Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -

Former "Hollywood Madam" Heidi Fleiss sobbed on the witness stand on Tuesday as she testified that actor Tom Sizemore (news) stubbed a cigarette out on her, smacked her in the face and verbally abused her during a rocky year-long relationship.

But lawyers for Sizemore, best known for playing a gruff sergeant in "Saving Private Ryan," told a Los Angeles jury that Fleiss was a "liar" who had invented the allegations. Prosecutors said they had photographs of her injuries and tapes of his threats.

Fleiss, who spent three years in prison for attempted pandering, was the first witness in Sizemore's trial on 16 charges of domestic violence, threats, witness intimidation, property destruction and obscene and harassing phone calls.

The 41-year-old Sizemore sat at the defense table during her testimony, occasionally conferring with his attorney, but did not address the court.

Fleiss, who once ran a call girl ring catering to Hollywood's rich and famous, said she fell in love with Sizemore in early 2001 while still adjusting to life outside of prison and moved into his house that August.

Under questioning from Deputy City Attorney Robert Cha, she said the actor lost his temper that November when they appeared on the Howard Stern radio show to promote the film "Black Hawk Down."

"Howard Stern asked me if I liked 'Black Hawk Down,' and I said I didn't," Fleiss, 37, said through tears. "I said it was too violent for me, that I liked films like 'Bambi."'

After the show, she said, Sizemore "was verbally abusive and put his cigarette out on me. It was terrible."

'TURNING INTO A WEIRDO'

Fleiss said she did not call the police after the incident because she didn't expect them to take the side of "evil Heidi, convicted criminal" over a respected Hollywood actor.

The following May, Fleiss said, the couple fought after she learned that he was consorting with prostitutes and led a "whole other life" while filming the horror movie "Dreamcatcher" in Canada.

"I had no idea he was turning into such a weirdo," Fleiss said. "When he finished filming some girls called me from (Canada) and told me that Tom owed them a bunch of money from their services."

Fleiss said that when she confronted Sizemore over a National Enquirer article headlined "Hollywood Madam's Boyfriend Cheating on Her With Hookers," he became violent.

"He hit me," she said. "I had a black eye and a fat lip the next day. He dragged me across the room by my hair."

The next day, Fleiss said, Sizemore hit her again, knocking her to the ground as his "Dreamcatcher" co-star Thomas Jane (news) tried to intervene. Fleiss said she left in Jane's car, her head bleeding.

Sizemore's attorney, Michael Fitzgerald told the jury during his opening statement that there was no evidence against Sizemore aside from the testimony of Fleiss, and that "the whole world knows that this woman was involved in a high-priced call-girl ring."

"Tom Sizemore is innocent," Fitzgerald said. "Heidi Fleiss is a liar."

[NormsRevenge]

Former 'Hollywood Madam' Heidi Fleiss(L) sobbed on the witness stand on August 5, 2003 as she testified that actor Tom Sizemore (news)(R) stubbed a cigarette out on her, smacked her in the face and verbally abused her during a rocky year-long relationship. But lawyers for Sizemore told a Los Angeles jury that Fleiss was a 'liar' who had invented the allegations. Prosecutors said they had photographs of her injuries and tapes of his threats. Fleiss and Sizemore are seen together at an American Film Institute (news - web sites) event in Los Angeles in this June 12, 2002 file photo. (Fred Prouser/Reuters)

[Scenic Sounds]

Poor lady!

She's got me crying now. ;-)

[cars for sale]

just a whore complaining about the hours

[Hildy]

The following May, Fleiss said, the couple fought after she learned that he was consorting with prostitutes and led a "whole other life" while filming the horror movie "Dreamcatcher" in Canada.

"I had no idea he was turning into such a weirdo," Fleiss said. "When he finished filming some girls called me from (Canada) and told me that Tom owed them a bunch of money from their services."

I can't possibly be the only one to see the obvious irony here.

[csvset]

I see her points.

[Scenic Sounds]

just a whore complaining about the hours

I've never paid any attention to any of those liberal media rumors (smears, really) about her.

[dead]

I really don't care about the personal lives of these celebrities, I just need to know who they think I should vote for.

[rockfish59]

Whore's RULE!---Beavis & Butthead

[decimon]

I can't possibly be the only one to see the obvious irony here.

Nope. Lotta brass in that irony.

[cars for sale]

smears really ???????????

she did make a living on her back and managed
beds of wimmens doing the same right ?

smear?...really ?

[eternity]

"Saving Private Ryan" a great movie. The guy's innocent! Next case.

[Thinkin' Gal]

The following May, Fleiss said, the couple fought after she learned that he was consorting with prostitutes...

She couldn't believe that he would book with a competitor.

[Scenic Sounds]

Smears!

Do you believe that we should just believe what the dominant liberal media spoon feeds us?

[cars for sale]

no friend to facts huh.....she pled guilty
and "splained" it all........

[b4its2late]

A/C must've been cranked up.

[Scenic Sounds]

she pled guilty

So did John Mitchell!

I doubt if she even knows this Sizemore guy.

[AlbionGirl]

Boy you'd think a head hooker would consider it beneath her to sob. Oh well, looks like the nineties leave yet another profession bruised and broken.

[Eaker]

I really don't care about the personal lives of these celebrities, I just need to know who they think I should vote for.

I also need to know how I should feel about wars and whom, as a Texas I should feel ashamed of. Further, without Hollywood how would I make up my mind whether I should support or oppose the 2nd Amendment!!!!

Eaker

[Nachum]

Why is it so hard to believe that this man is into prostitutes and beat the woman? She was a prostitute and did her time. She paid her debt in full. We know nothing about this man, except that he is an actor. Superstar basketball players or a well known actors can be jerks.

I'll wait for the verdict.