WINONA ONLINE News Library

A disgruntled former employee of Saks Fifth Avenue testified Friday in Winona Ryder’s defense, accusing the security chief of Saks’ Beverly Hills store of saying he would invent evidence to prove the actress shoplifted.

Michael Shoar was one of four witnesses called by attorney Mark Geragos, who indicated Ryder was unlikely to testify before the defense rests on Monday.

Winona Ryder has finally appeared in court in Los Angeles as her trial for shoplifting at a Beverly Hills store began on Thursday, after 10 months of delay.

The Hollywood actress entered a not guilty plea to revised charges related to the taking of $6,000 (£3,877) of designer goods from Saks Fifth Avenue, one of Hollywood’s most exclusive outlets, last December.