The Associated Press said in a report that Australian actor Sam Worthington was formally charged with assault-related charges over an incident with a member of the paparazzi over the weekend.
Worthington, whose most prominent role to date is playing the lead character in James Cameron's epic alien movie "Avatar," allegedly punched photographer Sheng Li, according to the New York Police Department. Worthington's actions were allegedly spurred by Li's assault on the actor's girlfriend, Lara Bingle, who was also at the scene of the incident, E! Online News said. It was said that Li kicked Bingle in the shin, which led to a bloody altercation. A manager of the Benny's Burritos in Greenwich Village in New York City, where the incident happened, told the entertainment news site at that time that both Worthington and Li showed their injuries to the police. It was also speculated that Worthington might have married Bingle the weeks leading to the incident, which might have been a reason why the actor was especially protective of his girlfriend.
Arriving with his legal entourage, Worthington was silent throughout his court appearance at the Manhattan Criminal Court, AP said. Defense lawyer Stacey Richman told the court judge that paparazzi had been following the actor relentlessly.
Li, on the other hand, was also slapped with reckless endangerment, assault and harassment charges. Li's lawyer claimed that his client should not have been arrested at that time, AP said.
After Worthington finished his court appearance, E! Online News said that the actor received a restraining order against Li, which contained a provision that he should not contact the complainant in person, over the phone, or on any social networks.
Should the "Avatar" star will be found guilty of the assault-related charges, he will most likely serve a maximum of one-year sentence, the entertainment news site said.
