Lawyer Says O’Neal’s Son Lied About Boat Accident

ANNAPOLIS, Md. —  A lawyer for actor Ryan O’Neal’s 22-year-old son said today his client lied when he originally denied driving a boat during an accident that killed the son of film director Francis Ford Coppola.

Ryan O’Neal sat behind his son, Griffin, during the first day of the manslaughter trial in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court. If convicted, O’Neal faces up to five years in prison and a $1,000 fine.

The younger O’Neal waived his right to a jury trial. He hung his head during most of the videotaped testimony from Jacqueline De LaFontaine, who is expected to give birth this month to the child of Gian Carlo Coppola.

LaFontaine, who was with O’Neal and the 23-year-old Coppola until about 15 minutes before the May 26 accident, said she was shocked to learn O’Neal had lied about operating the boat.

During opening arguments, O’Neal’s lawyer, T. Joseph Touhey, said O’Neal was inexperienced in boating and made a mistake when he drove a 14-foot rented runabout between two other boats and hit a tow line.

“It was a gruesome scene. He absolutely goes into a state of shock and hysteria. His denial of driving the boat was a product of his hysteria,” Touhey said.

The accident occurred on the South River near Annapolis. Coppola suffered fatal head injuries.

O’Neal originally told authorities that Coppola was driving the boat. An autopsy revealed Coppola had consumed about five beers in an hour before his death. O’Neal was not tested for alcohol, authorities said, because he claimed he was not operating the boat.