Stories differ in O’Neal fracas

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, February 7, 2007

LOS ANGELES – The battle between Ryan O’Neal and his son Griffin that led to the actor’s arrest at his Malibu home over the weekend turned into a war of words in law offices Wednesday as their attorneys each charged that the other side was responsible for the fight in which a fireplace poker was swung and a gun fired.

Griffin O’Neal, 42, and his pregnant girlfriend, Joanna Berry, who had bandages around a bruised and swollen left eye, appeared but did not speak at a press conference by attorney Gloria Allred.

“We vigorously reject any assertion that the injuries suffered by Joanna and Griffin were as a result of Ryan O’Neal’s acting in self defense,” Allred said in a prepared statement.

The actor’s attorney, Mark Werksman, countered quickly.

“Ryan O’Neal is the victim and was attacked by his own son, with his own poker,” Werksman said. “It’s regrettable that Griffin is trying to make a public spectacle out of this family tragedy.”

Werksman said O’Neal’s other son, Redmond, was in the house at the time and the fight occurred over how Griffin has treated Redmond. Werksman said Redmond is currently in drug treatment.

Ryan O’Neal, who was arrested for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon and negligent discharge of a firearm, has said he fired a “warning shot” to scare his son away after he came at him with the poker. He said his son struck Berry, 25, with the poker when he ducked during the fight.