文章基本信息

标题：PRAY FOR ME
作者：TOM WELLS
期刊名称：Sunday Mirror
印刷版ISSN：0956-8077
出版年度：2005
卷号：Dec 18, 2005
出版社：Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd.

PRAY FOR ME

TOM WELLS

TROUBLED pop star Boy George has asked churchgoers to pray he won't be sent to prison on drugs charges at a hearing in America tomorrow.

The singer - whose greatest 80s hit was Karma Chameleon - was attending a memorial service for his late father at his family's local Catholic church when he made his emotional appeal.

He confided in the congregation about his "nightmare" ordeal, insisting he is innocent.

The star - real name George O'Dowd - said he had been "stitched up" and had nothing to do with the cocaine found at his home in New York.

He said his lawyer believed he stood a good chance of being cleared but he was still "deeply anxious" about the possibility of being "wrongly" convicted and jailed for up to 15 years. The extraordinary scenes unfolded at St Thomas More Roman Catholic Church in Eltham, South East London, close to where mum Dinah lives.

The O'Dowd family - George has three brothers and one sister - are very close and were brought up in the area. One churchgoer said: "It was really moving and everyone felt very sorry for him. You could tell how genuinely concerned he is.

"He said he was not guilty and had been stitched up over the drugs but he is still extremely worried about the thought of going to prison for a long time.

"George asked the priest to pray for him and he said all the congregation would do so. He looked very emotional. He is terrified about going to America but he wants to go to court and clear his name."

George, 44, who works as a club DJ, was arrested in October after police found 13 bags of cocaine in his apartment. Officers went there after the former Culture Club singer reported a break-in - and allegedly found him "in a stupor".

Police said the drugs were found in the master bedroom during a search of the flat.

Pictures of him looking pale and bloated were taken outside a court in New York. He was charged with possessing 3.5g of cocaine before being released on bail on condition he returns to the court tomorrow.