The Hollywood heir charged with the brutal killing of his wife and her parents is being forced to come to court half naked, his attorney claimed.
Sam Haskell IV, whose father is William Morris Agency executive vice president Samuel Haskell III, was nude to the waist during while pleading not guilty in the case during a Friday court proceeding in Los Angeles.
Haskell, 35, had to be in the state of undress because authorities believe he is at risk of self-harm, according to his lawyer Joe Weimortz, who slammed as “wild speculation.”
“Mr. Haskell has not indicated he wants to harm himself,” Weimortz told Fox News.
But the sheriff’s department insisted Haskell wear an anti-self-harm vest, he said.
Haskell was in blue jail pants with his wrists chained in front of his waist when he appeared in court Friday.
His lawyer claims Haskell cannot wear the anti-self harm vest because of a medical condition and that the Sheriff’s office “will not allow him to appear with a shirt, gown or blanket.”
“The result is he has to appear in court naked from the waist up. This has led to rampant speculation in the media,” Weimortz said. “This situation is dehumanizing and creates an inaccurate image of Mr. Haskell.”
Haskell is suspected of chopping up his wife, Mei Haskell, 37, and her parents, Goashan Li, 72, and Yanxiang Wang, 64, and was allegedly seen on surveillance cameras hurling a torso into a dumpster.
Haskell’s in-laws had moved to the U.S. from China to be near their grandchildren, Haskells’ three sons.
Haskell was arrested Nov. 8, after a homeless person found a headless torso wrapped in plastic in a dumpster.
Authorities later found nearby surveillance footage allegedly showing Haskell dropping off a heavy garbage bag the prior morning.
Cops later allegedly found blood and other evidence at Haskell’s home and arrested him, according to reports.
He was charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
If convicted on all three counts of murder, Haskell IV faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.
Haskell’s father had represented an illustrious list of stars, including George Clooney, Dolly Parton, Whoopi Goldberg — and even King Charles’ brother Prince Edward.
His mom, actress Mary Donnelly Haskell, is known for a series of Christmas movies.
