Extradition Sought in DiCaprio Attack

[January 04, 2008]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Police will seek the extradition of a woman accused of fleeing to Canada after slashing Leonardo DiCaprio with a broken beer bottle at a party in 2005, authorities said.

Aretha Wilson, 37, has been in custody for several months in Toronto in connection with an aggravated assault case there and is a suspect in other assault cases, Los Angeles police Detective Steve Ramirez said Thursday.

Prosecutors are awaiting a formal communication from police before they launch an inquiry into whether the charge against Wilson is an extraditable offense, district attorney's office spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said.

Dicaprio suffered "great bodily injury" when Wilson allegedly attacked him with a broken beer bottle on June 20, 2005, as he was leaving a party in Hollywood Hills, according to an arrest warrant charging her with one count of assault with a deadly weapon.

Wilson failed to turn herself in after the arrest warrant was issued, authorities said.

DiCaprio attorney Blair Berk said the 33-year-old actor has been cooperating with local and Canadian authorities.

[Associated Press]

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