Tuesday, 19 May 2009

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Kanye West pleads not guilty in paparazzi scuffle

Rapper insists he's innocent

Kanye West insists he is completely innocent

Kanye West pleaded not guilty Friday in a Los Angeles court to misdemeanor vandalism, battery and grand theft stemming from a scuffle with paparazzi at Los Angeles International Airport on Sept. 11.

West, 31, was not present in court, but his lawyer, Blair Berk, appeared on his behalf.

West's road manager, Don Crawley, 33, who was charged with two counts of each of the above crimes, also pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley.

Eight months ago, the two were arrested for the altercation while attempting to catch a flight to Honolulu. Video of the incident showed both men wrestling a camera away from a photographer, with each smashing parts of it into the ground.

Crawley also allegedly smashed a second photographer's camera.

"I'm cool with the paparazzi," the rapper wrote on his blog following the arrest. "This guy wasn't cool. I gotta work now ... I'll rant later!"

On Nov. 14, West was arrested in Newcastle, England, after another run-in with a photographer, but he was released without charge.

West and Crawley's next hearing is scheduled for July 15.