Killers on standby for Yoko Ono

15-12-2006 20:00

Yoko Ono's chauffeur said he had people "on standby" to kill her.

Koral Karsan threatened to kill John Lennon's widow and release embarrassing photographs and recordings of her unless she paid him $2 million.

Assistant District Attorney Maureen O'Connor, speaking at Karsan's arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, said: "Karsan claimed he had people on standby waiting to kill the victim on his orders."

Yoko's lawyer Jonas Herbsman said Karsan told him he would "ruin the life of Yoko, her children and her associates" if she didn't give him the money.

Jude Tanya Kennedy set Karsan's bail at a hefty $500,000 bond or $250,000 cash, after O'Connor branded him an "extraordinary flight risk".

Karsan has protested his innocence, claiming Yoko made the allegations to stop him "pursuing a sexual harassment case against her."

Karsan - who has worked for Ono for six years - was arrested in New York on Wednesday (13.12.06) after Yoko reported the threats.

More about Killers on standby for Yoko Ono on page 2