Diaz To Testify Over Steamy Pics

(AP)  Cameron Diaz was expected to take the stand in a criminal trial that began Wednesday with prosecutors saying a photographer blackmailed the actress by offering to sell back topless photos he took before she became a star.

Diaz would testify Thursday morning in the trial of John Rutter, a photographer charged with one count each of attempted grand theft, forgery and perjury, Rutter's attorney Mark Werksman said. If convicted, Rutter could face up to six years in prison.

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren told the jury in his opening statement that Rutter, 42, waited until Diaz's career blossomed before confronting her with photos from a May 1992 session, when the actress was 19. Walgren said prospective buyers could have paid Rutter up to $5 million, but the defendant asked Diaz for up to $3.5 million.

Prosecutors said Rutter approached Diaz in 2003 with a forged model release form as a way to put pressure on the actress, whose films include "There's Something About Mary" (1998) and "Gangs of New York" (2002), as well as the popular "Charlie's Angels" and "Shrek" movies.

"Defendant presented a forged document and, in essence, attempted to blackmail her out of her money," Walgren said.

Werksman portrayed Diaz as an actress ashamed of her past who was able to persuade the district attorney to do her bidding because of her celebrity status.

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