HBO - FORMER OZ ACTOR CHARGED IN HOMICIDE CASE

Actor GRANVILLE ADAMS, who appeared in the US network HBO prison drama series OZ, has been arrested in connection with the death of a man who fell down an elevator shaft during a fight in New York City. Adams was arrested on Saturday (03FEB07) and charged with criminally negligent homicide. The 43-year-old played the character ZAHIR ARIF in more than 20 episodes of the critically acclaimed show, which ran from 1997-2003. He had been working as a manager at the upscale nightclub BED. Police were called to the nightclub in New York City's Chelsea neighbourhood early on Saturday and found 35-year-old ORLANDO VALLE, who had allegedly fallen down an elevator shaft after a scuffle at the nightclub. Valle later died after being taken to hospital. According to local media reports, Valle struggled with Adams after a friend of Valle's had an argument with the club's coat checker. Valle fell against a set of elevator doors that gave way and plunged several stories, landing on top of the elevator shaft. In addition to his role in Oz, Adams also played a police officer in 11 episodes of HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET and had a small part in the film EMPIRE.