‘Stones’ guitarist’s trial will begin today

Press, 24 October 1978, Page 9

‘Stones’ guitarist’s trial will begin today

NZPA-Reuter Toronto The Rolling Stones guitarist, Keith Richards, will go on trial in Toronto today on drug charges that could land him in jail for life. The charges date back to February, last year, when Richards — he recently added the “s” to his name—was on tour in Toronto with the British rock group. He was charged with possessing heroin for trafficking and possessing cocaine. He has been free on $25,000 bail. Legal sources close to the

case say that if Richards is convicted, he is unlikely to receive the maximum penalty. “Getting life would be like someone dying on the operating table when he is having his appendix out,” one source said. “It happens, but not often.” Richards, aged 34, is anxious to avoid what , one Rolling Stones publicist called the “circus element” in the trial, which is expected to last two days. “This is serious stuff, this is a nitty-gritty," the publicist, Mr Mike Lehman, told

NZPA-Reuter from his office in Los Angeles. Mr Paul Wasserman, Mr Lehman’s associate, said Richards was expected to fly to Toronto, and would be accompanied by members of his family, including his son, Marlon, aged 8, and bis daughter, Dandelion, aged 6. Other members of the Rolling Stones had considered coming to Toronto to lend moral support, but they “felt it would make the whole thing more like a circus than a trial, and they did not want that,” Mr Wasserman said.