Keanu Trial Kicks Into High Gear

Mon., Oct. 27, 2008 8:35 PM PDT by Natalie Finn

INFdaily.com

Keanu Reeves' civil trial is starting to pick up speed.

Following questions about Matrix plot points and what they think of paparazzi, a jury was seated and opening statements kicked off Monday afternoon in the negligence case brought by a photographer who claims that Reeves dinged him with his Porsche last year while pulling out of a parking space in Palos Verdes, Calif.

Reeves, in court for the proceedings, remained silent for the duration, except when he told jurors "good morning" upon his arrival.

The star of the upcoming The Day the Earth Stood Still claims that plaintiff Alison Silva was about 10 feet away and tripped over his own feet while angling for a shot of him. Silva, meanwhile, contends that Reeves blindly bumped into him because he was covering his face as backed out of his spot, leaving him with a severe wrist injury that required surgery and left him unable to work.

Both sides have acknowledged that Silva had a preexisting wrist condition, but his attorney, Joseph Farzam, says that it was made much worse by his run-in with Reeves.

The evidence will prove that Reeves had his head down when he hit Silva, Farzam added during his opening remarks.

"Mr. Silva, during the course of that night, has told at least five different versions of what happened," countered Reeves' attorney, Alfred Gerisch, who said that the story the shutterbug told to paramedics, police, doctors and attorneys changed depending on whom he was talking to.

Reeves could spend up to several hours on the stand when he's called to testify Tuesday. Both he and Silva are scheduled to testify.