Anthony Pellicano To Stand Trial

Anthony Pellicano, the shamed Hollywood private investigator,  will stand trial over allegations he threatened a Los Angeles Times journalist who reported on one of his clients.

Last year (08), Pellicano was convicted of wiretapping while working for several high-profile clients and sentenced to 15 years behind bars.

His partner in crime, revered Hollywood lawyer Terry Christensen, was also found guilty of aiding and abetting a wiretap and he is currently serving a three-year sentence.

The disgraced detective is now set to face an L.A. jury after he was accused of hiring Alexander Proctor to intimidate reporter Anita Busch, who was working on a story about Hollywood agent Michael Ovitz.

Proctor is alleged to have placed a dead fish with a rose in its mouth on the bonnet of Busch's car, put a bullet-sized hole in her windshield, and wrote a note saying 'Stop' - all on Pellicano's orders.

Pellicano pleaded not guilty to the accusations during a court hearing in June (09), but on Tuesday (04Aug09), Superior Court Judge William Pounders ruled the case will go to trial because his alleged actions caused Busch "to fear for her life".