Roger Avary, the 44-year-old filmmaker and screenwriter who won an Oscar for co-writing Pulp Fiction with director Quentin Tarantino in 1995, has been sentenced to year in jail for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
In January of 2008, Avary's Mercedes collided with a telephone pole not far from his Ojai, California home. seriously injuring his wife Gretchen and killing another passenger, Andreas Zeni. Zeni, an Italian national, was on his honeymoon at the time. Avary was arrested on suspicion driving under the influence before posting a $50,000 bond and being released from the Ventura County Jail. The charges were upped to manslaughter after Zeni died at nearby hospital. Avary apparently walked away from the crash largely unscathed.
A statement released by the filmmaker's publicist at the time stated: “Roger wishes to publicly convey his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased. Words cannot express how sorry he is, and this tragic accident will always haunt him." He later told the courtroom at his trial that the accident had "profoundly altered me to the very core of my being."
The filmmaker has reportedly already settled a civil suit brought by the Zeni family for $4.1 million. Following the completion of his sentence, he'll face five years probation.
Avary made his foray into the Hollywood big time after writing the screenplay for Pulp Fiction with Tarantino, his former co-worker at Manhattan Beach's Video Archives. Though the pair were rewarded with an Best Original Screenplay Oscar for their efforts, the former friends had a falling out sometime afterwards and have not collaborated since.
Avary has nonetheless continued to work as director, screenwriter and script doctor.with his most recent turn behind the camera being his 2002 film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis's The Rules of Attraction. Avary also wrote 2006's Silent Hill and co-wrote 2007's Beowulf with novelist and Sandman creator, Neil Gaiman.
For more info: Check out more stories from the dark side of pop culture or follow them on Twitter.
Comments
Big deal, 1 years is nothing. He'll just farm some new mats.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!