This Article is From Jul 24, 2009

Indian origin photographer alleges assault by Jude Law

London:

Indian origin photographer Harsha Gopal has alleged that British actor Jude Law hit her in the face outside a London restaurant, a claim firmly denied by the star.

The incident has been widely reported in the British media along with pictures which show the 28-year-old being pushed away by the 'Alfie' actor who was leaving a celebrity dinner party when the incident occurred.

And now the paparazzo is considering pressing assault charges against Law, reported Daily Mail.

Gopal claimed the attack was unprovoked saying, "He hit me full on the face, it was a real stinger, it was very sore."

She was among a group of other photographers who had assembled outside to catch the A-list crowd on their way out. "It was really loud, there was a massive thud and my face is still stinging today. It was deliberate, you could see it in his face. Maybe he didn't realise he was hitting a girl, but he could at least apologise," she added.

Meanwhile a lawyer for Law has denied that the actor had deliberately struck her and brushed off the incident as an "accident".

"Last night's incident was an accident. Jude was blinded by the camera flashes when he left the restaurant, raised his hand to shield himself and inadvertently struck somebody standing very close. He apologised and left," said Law's lawyer Graham Shear.

Jude was at a dinner hosted by movie director Christopher Nolan, where other guests included Leonardo DiCaprio, Jay- Z and singer Michelle Williams.

The 36-year-old actor was arrested after allegedly assaulting a photographer near his Maida Vale home in 2007, although he denied the claims and the case was dropped.

"Last night's incident was an accident. Jude was blinded by the camera flashes when he left the restaurant, raised his hand to shield himself and inadvertently struck somebody standing very close. He apologised and left," said Law's lawyer Graham Shear.

Jude was at a dinner hosted by movie director Christopher Nolan, where other guests included Leonardo DiCaprio, Jay- Z and singer Michelle Williams.

The 36-year-old actor was arrested after allegedly assaulting a photographer near his Maida Vale home in 2007, although he denied the claims and the case was dropped.

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