SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- The Scottish drifter accused of stalking and brutally stabbing actress Theresa Saldana pleaded innocent Tuesday to attempted murder and assault charges.
Arthur Richard Jackson, 46, entered his plea during a brief Superior Court arraignment and a pretrial hearing was scheduled for May 11.
He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Miss Saldana, 27, suffered numerous stab wounds during the attack last month outside her West Hollywood apartment, including a punctured lung. She has been released from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and is recuperating at home. She did not appear in court.
The actress, who was featured in the Oscar-winning film 'Raging Bull,' was on her way to a music class the morning of March 15 when Jackson allegedly stabbed her with such force he bent his knife. A passing deliveryman heard her screams, pulled the man from her and held him for sheriff's deputies.
During the arraignment, Jackson, who has been a patient in mental hospitals in the United States and Great Britain, appeared bewildered and confused by the proceedings. When the judge asked if he was pleading guilty, Jackson replied, 'I'm afraid I wasn't listening.'
Jackson appeared to have a 'love fixation' on Miss Saldana and was carrying a rambling journal in which the actress was mentioned numerous times, detectives said.
