Paris Hilton's Boyfriend Attacked Outside Van Nuys Courthouse

Paris Hilton’s appearance at Van Nuys Superior Court Wednesday was marred by an attacker who grabbed the socialite’s boyfriend by the neck as the couple were walking to the courthouse amid a throng of reporters. 

Hilton and boyfriend Cy Waits were at the courthouse to testify in the trial of Nathan Lee Parada, who is accused of attempting to break into Hilton's Sherman Oaks home last August with two knives in hand. 

Several men who appeared to be guarding Hilton pounced on Waits' attacker and forced him to the ground. As the incident unfolded, a reporter for Sherman Oaks Patch heard Hilton say, “That’s the man who’s been following me on a bicycle.” Guards then ushered the couple into the courthouse where, away from most of the media, Hilton threw her arms around Waits in relief. 

Police took the alleged attacker into custody. Los Angeles Police Department sources identified the man as James Rainford, who is on three years probation after pleading no contest last year to stalking Hilton.

Inside the courtroom Wednesday, prosecutor Kaveh Fatureci told the jury of eight women and four men in his opening statement that Parada had been stalking Hilton for at least a day. Fatureci said Parada had bought a map to the star’s home, then walked from Hollywood to her residence in Mulholland Estates. Once there, the prosecutor said, Parada spent the night outside the house before pounding on Hilton’s window at about 6 a.m. on Aug. 24 in an attempt to break in.

Despite the earlier drama outside the courthouse, Hilton, the prosecution’s first witness, appeared composed as she took the stand. She told the court how Waits awakened her when he heard pounding coming from the first floor. Hilton pounded with her hand on the witness stand to demonstrate the sound she said she heard at least nine times, coming from a large downstairs window.

Hilton said she and Waits went downstairs and saw Parada staring through the window and smiling.

Waits, who followed Hilton on the witness stand, said he walked out to the home's garden area with a handgun, a .38 Tomcat semi-automatic. When he asked the man’s identity, Parada turned and smirked at him with two knives in his hands, one a large steak knife, the other a smaller flip knife, Waits testified.

Waits said he commanded Parada to drop the knives and lie on the ground. He then told Parada to crawl forward to get away from the weapons and held the man at bay while Hilton called police, Waits testified. 

During the testimony, Parada never looked at either Hilton or Waits. He sat with his hand slightly covering what seemed to be a smirk. 

The trial is expected to last two days. If convicted, Parada could face a maximum of three years in prison.