A Hollywood heir accused of brutally murdering his wife and parents was forced to appear in court half-naked, his lawyer has claimed.
Sam Haskell IV, whose father is William Morris Agency executive vice president Samuel Haskell III, stripped to the waist while pleading not guilty in the case during court proceedings Friday in Los Angeles.
Haskell, 35, was forced to remain unclothed because authorities believed he was at risk of harming himself, according to his attorney Joe Weimortz, who dismissed it as “wild speculation.”
“Mr. Haskell did not say he wanted to hurt himself,” Weimortz told Fox News.
But the sheriff’s department insisted Haskell wear a self-harm vest, he said.
Haskell wore blue prison pants with his wrists chained in front of his waist when he appeared in court Friday.
His attorney claimed Haskell could not wear a self-harm vest due to a medical condition and the Sheriff’s office “will not allow him to appear in a shirt, gown or blanket.”
Sam Haskell, 35, who is accused of killing his wife and parents, appeared shirtless in court for the second time on Friday. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Hollywood heir Sam Haskell pleaded guilty to manslaughter in an LA courtroom on Friday while shirtless. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
“As a result, he had to appear in court naked from the waist up. This has led to rampant speculation in the media,” said Weimortz. “These conditions are inhumane and create an inaccurate image of Mr. Haskell.”
Haskell is suspected of dismembering his wife, Mei Haskell, 37, and her parents, Goashan Li, 72, and Yanxiang Wang, 64, and is allegedly seen on surveillance cameras throwing the torsos into a trash can.
Haskell’s in-laws have moved to the US from China to be near their grandchildren, the Haskells’ three sons.
Haskell was arrested on November 8, after a homeless man found a headless torso wrapped in plastic in a trash can.
Authorities later found nearby surveillance footage that allegedly showed Haskell unloading a heavy bag of trash the previous morning.
Haskell is accused of murdering his wife, Mei Haskell and her parents, YanXiang Wang and Gaoshan Li. AP
Police later allegedly found blood and other evidence at Haskell’s home and arrested him, according to reports.
He was charged with three counts of first degree murder.
If convicted of all three counts of murder, Haskell IV faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.
Father Haskell has represented a list of famous stars, including George Clooney, Dolly Parton, Whoopi Goldberg — and even King Charles’ brother, Prince Edward.
His mother, actress Mary Donnelly Haskell, is best known for her series of Christmas movies.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
