Donna D'Errico 'Heavily Medicated' Ex-Playmate Denied Request In Divorce Trial with Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx
Controversial Allegations At Crux Of Legal Proceedings
Donna D'Errico LOS ANGELES -- Model Donna D'Errico was denied a delay Thursday on the eve of a trial to determine how assets should be split up in her divorce from Motley Crue member Nikki Sixx.
A pale and hoarse D'Errico told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Thomas Trent Lewis she has asthmatic bronchitis and is medically unfit to go forward with the trial.
D'Errico, who fired her most recent lawyer, also said she had been unable to find another attorney because of the recent wildfires.
"The fires have been out for two to three weeks."
The judge also told the actress that despite her "labored breathing" in court, she conducted herself professionally during Thursday's hearing.
Compared to others who have represented themselves in his courtroom, "few have been as adroit at asking questions" of witnesses than her, Lewis said.
Lewis directed her to be prepared to go forward with the trial Friday.
Nikki Sixx, the Motley Crue bassist, testified Thursday that he was told his former model-actress wife previously worked as a prostitute and a stripper, and that she was a spendthrift."
I heard she was doing high-end call girl work," Sixx said.
"I was freaking out. Your head starts to spin. We have a child together."
D'Errico, Playboy Playmate of the Month September 1995 and a former "Baywatch" cast member, married Sixx on Dec. 23, 1996.
Sixx, 48, was testifying for the second straight day in what D'Errico's lawyer, G. Darrell Berglund, said is a non-jury trial concerning financial issues and property division.
He said he also is seeking to uncover assets allegedly hidden by Sixx and to protect his client from what he called "character assassination."
Asked outside the courtroom about Sixx's statements, Berglund said, "We are amused by the comments."
He said D'Errico is a religious woman whose entire life centers around her children.
Sixx -- dressed in a coat, tie, jeans and tennis shoes -- testified a madam told him about D'Errico while the band was touring last fall with Aerosmith.
Sixx also testified he was stunned to find out that D'Errico worked years earlier as a stripper in Texas and Las Vegas.
"I was hurt and I was in shock," Sixx said.
"I said `Wait a minute, she didn't tell me that."
Sixx's testimony was not clear as to whether the madam told him D'Errico allegedly worked as a prostitute before the marriage or after their separation. Berglund said he also was unclear on the time period.
Sixx's lawyers declined to clarify the issue.
During Thursday's hearing, one of Sixx's friends, Jonathan Roberts, testified that he spied on D'Errico and photographed her extensively on Sunday at Sixx's request.
He said he saw her go to church, a restaurant, and a sporting goods store and walk up a long stairway at a beach.
Another witness, retired sheriff's Sgt. Thomas Stephens, testified he spied on D'Errico Wednesday -- also in behalf of Sixx -- and that she left her home for six hours.
When she returned, she smiled at him when he said "Donna, National Enquirer" as she parked her SUV, he said.
Both men said D'Errico did some of the driving and that her father did the rest.
Lewis said the testimony of the witnesses, as well as D'Errico's decision not to bring in a doctor to testify in support of her motion, influenced his decision to rule against her.
Outside the courtroom, D'Errico -- wearing a black coat and tennis shoes -- said she doubts she can effectively proceed with the trial Friday.
"I don't see how I can because I'm under heavy medication," she said.D'Errico, a Playboy Playmate of the Month 12 years ago this month and a former "Baywatch" cast member, married Sixx on Dec. 23, 1996.
According to Sixx, they first met on a blind date arranged by Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, who was once married to another "Baywatch" star, Pamela Anderson.
D'Errico, 39, also had roles in "Austin Powers in Goldmember" and "Kiss the Bride."
She filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court in April 2006, and the marriage was officially over in June.
Testimony in the trial began in late September when Sixx -- who comes to court in a coat, jeans and tennis shoes -- testified a madam told him while the band was touring last fall with Aerosmith that D'Errico had once worked as a prostitute for a noted Las Vegas pimp.
Sixx, 48, said that when he asked the madam for proof, she gave him names and other information that led him to believe she was telling the truth.
Sixx also testified he was stunned to find out that D'Errico worked years earlier as a stripper in Texas and Las Vegas.
The couple separated briefly in 2001 after the birth of their daughter, Frankie-Jean, who is now 6, according to the Internet Movie Database.
They reconciled after Sixx went through rehab.
Nikki SixxSixx said he went into rehab again in 1999 while both he and D'Errico were using cocaine and alcohol.
She was able to stop on her own, but resumed using cocaine after their daughter was born to control her weight, he said.
Sixx testified that he did yet another stint in rehab in 2001, when he was treated for 28 days.
He said he has been clean and sober for more than six years.
Berglund maintains Motley Crue was on a downward spiral before Sixx married D'Errico.
The popularity of "Baywatch," and the association with Anderson and Lee, helped revitalize the band and bring more income to Sixx and D'Errico, Berglund said.
"She had a higher value fan base at first," Berglund said.
Sixx conceded the band was on a downturn at the time of the marriage.
However, he said D'Errico ignored his warnings to cut the couple's expenses when Motley Crue's revenues were down.
"I told her we had to slow our spending down, at which point Donna accelerated her spending," Sixx testified.
One example was D'Errico's decision to spend $15,000 on a playground for Frankie-Jean, Sixx testified.
He said he eventually gave up trying to change her spending ways.
"I think at some point during the marriage I just learned to cave in with Donna as the path of least resistance," Sixx testified.
D'Errico and Sixx have already settled custody issues concerning Frankie- Jean.
D'Errico also has a 14-year-old son from an earlier relationship.
Sixx, who penned a memoir entitled "The Heroin Diaries," nearly died of a drug overdose in December 1987, which prompted the entire band to seek treatment.
Sixx had three children with ex-wife Brandi Brandt.
