British pop star
Boy George was convicted Friday by a London jury of
imprisoning and beating a Norwegian male escort in his
apartment in 2007.
The former
Culture Club lead singer, born George O'Dowd, did not
testify in the trial, but admitted to police that he
had handcuffed 29-year-old escort Audun Carlsen while
investigating whether he had tampered with one of
George's home computers.
Prosecutors
argued that as Carlsen attempted to flee the apartment after
a nude photo shoot, George beat him with a metal chain.
Jurors were shown
pictures of welts on Carlsen's head and injuries to
his arm. George denied beating him, telling the jury
that Carlsen received the marks because he was
HIV-positive.
According to MTV
News, when the verdict was read, George's "mouth
dropped, and his friends in the public gallery gasped."
George is due
back in court January 16 for sentencing. (Ross von Metzke,
Advocate.com)
