Wednesday, January 13, 2010

David Copperfield 'rape' investigation closed


A two-year rape investigation against magician David Copperfield has been closed without charges being filed, US authorities have said.

A Seattle woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, claimed he sexually assaulted her on his private island in the Bahamas in 2007.

His lawyers have previously dismissed her claims as an attempt at "extortion for money, plain and simple".

The woman's lawyer, Rebecca Roe, said her client was "disappointed".

"But it wasn't completely unexpected given the jurisdictional issue of prosecuting him here for something that happened on his private island," Ms Roe added.

The US Attorney's Office in Seattle said the decision "should not be perceived as a comment on guilt or innocence".

Mr Copperfield lawyers made no immediate comment on the decision.

False complaint

The woman who made the complaint is a 23-year-old fashion model, waitress and former Miss Washington contestant.

She said in a related civil lawsuit against Mr Copperfield that she met him when he pulled her out of the crowd and onto the stage during a performance in Washington.

The woman said she was invited to his private island where she claimed the star - real name David Kotkin - sexually assaulted her.

Police said she had recently filed a false sexual assault complaint against a different man.

Copperfield is known for elaborate stunts such as apparently walking through the Great Wall of China and making the Statue of Liberty disappear.

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