Yoko Ono testified against a former assistant in a New York City courtroom Tuesday. Ono filed suit against Frederic Seaman, claiming he stole numerous family photos, letters, videotapes and other items. Among the charges in Ono's case is a breach of confidentiality agreement, copyright violation of 374 photographs and theft of eleven documents.

Seaman pleaded guilty in 1982 to stealing Lennon family property and was ordered to return all items in question. The photos and letters cited in the suit were not returned as required, according to Ono, prompting the current suit. Seaman claims that the photos in question in Ono's current suit are his own, but Ono says the assistant was paid for taking the photographs, making them her property. Among the items displayed in court yesterday was a videotape and series of photographs from April 1980 at Lennon and Ono's home in Cold Spring Harbor, New York, as well as snapshots from John and Sean Lennon's birthday party on October 9th of the same year, just two months before John was shot to death.

Seaman is expected to take the stand today, and the case may be sent to the jury this afternoon.

ANDREW DANSBY
(September 25, 2002)