People News

Michael Douglas supports son in court

Dec 20, 2012, 9:01 GMT

Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas turned up in court to support his son.

The 68-year-old actor - who is married to Catherine Zeta-Jones - attended his son Cameron's court hearing yesterday (19.12.12) as he appealed against the 54 extra months of prison time that were added to his current five-year sentence for narcotics distribution.

The 'Fatal Attraction' star told reporters outside the Manhattan courtroom the case was 'on appeal' and he was 'clearly' hoping for the best, according to the New York Daily News newspaper.

Defence attorney Paul Shechtman told the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, 'I'm not suggesting Cameron Douglas shouldn't be punished for this', adding that the sentence was 'shockingly long' and 'maybe the harshest sentence ever imposed on a federal prisoner for a drug possession offence'.

Cameron's attempt to shorten his sentence comes days after being attacked in prison, where he suffered a broken leg and finger. A bounty of $100 was reportedly put on the 34-year-old actor by a New York mobster as payback for telling police who his drug suppliers were.

The troubled star was only supposed to serve five years instead of 10 after doing a deal with prosecutors, but earned an extra four-and-a-half years for smuggling heroin and a prescription narcotic during his stay at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre.

Cameron - whose mother is Michael's ex-wife Diandra Morrell Douglas - is currently not eligible for release until 2018.