No Insider Help For Crowe

Posted Monday, June 24, 2002 at 7:14 AM Central

by Heather Koehler

The courts dismissed extortion charges against the two men accused of trying to blackmail actor Russell Crowe early today in Australia.

Aussie's Malcolm Mercer and Philip Cropper were charged with "intent to gain with unwarranted demands" by Russell after a supposed nightclub incident caught on tape. The Proof of Life star claims the men demanded money or they would publish the tape.

The courts viewed the video and heard testimony from a friend of Crowe's, claiming he and Cropper had a conversation concerning the situation but it just wasn't enough evidence to get a conviction.