A stony-faced Sam Worthington has appeared in court after being accused of punching a photographer in the face while defending his girlfriend, Australian model Lara Bingle, in New York.
The 37-year-old Australian actor faced Manhattan Criminal Court overnight.
He was charged with two counts of assault in the third degree, attempted assault and harassment after an altercation with photographer Sheng Li outside Cubbyhole bar in West Village on the weekend.
Saying very little throughout his brief court appearance, Sam was issued with a restraining order and told to stay away from the photographer for six months.
Judge Bruna DiBiase also charged Li with assault, reckless endangerment and harassment over the incident.
The Avatar star’s lawyer Stacey Richman told the judge that Sam and Lara, 26, were being pursued relentlessly by photographers.
Footage of the altercation shows Lara attempting to grab the photographer’s camera before Sam intervenes.
Lara, who Sam referred to as his “wife” in footage of the altercation, was not present at the court appearance.
The Aussie actor faces a maximum sentence of a year in jail if convicted of the charges.
He did not enter a plea and will reappear in court on May 8.
