Chris Rock testifies at Hollywood wiretap trial

AFP, April, 2008

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Comedian Chris Rock hired the private eye in Hollywood's wiretapping trial to dig up information about a Hungarian model who filed a paternity suit against him, a court heard Friday.

Testifying at the trial of "Detective to the Stars" Anthony Pellicano, Rock told the court he had hired the sleuth in 1999 to investigate Monika Zsibrita, who claimed the funnyman had fathered her child after a one-night stand.

Pellicano, 64, is accused of running a criminal enterprise that illegally wiretapped the adversaries of his high-powered clients.

He is alleged to have obtained unauthorized police information on Zsibrita after she demanded money from Rock.

Rock, 43, who was separated from his wife at the time of his tryst with Zsibrita, said he had hired Pellicano on the advice of his lawyer after suspecting he was the victim of a "shake down."

"Someone who is ...