Hedge manager testifies in Pellicano case

A New York hedge fund manager testified yesterday that a Hollywood private detective once offered to have a movie producer killed for him, published reports said. Adam Sender, owner of New York-based Exis Capital Management Inc., testified with immunity yesterday in Los Angeles federal court. He testified that private detective Anthony Pellicano had once offered to have movie producer Aaron Russo killed because Mr. Russo owed him money from a $1.1 million investment Mr. Sender had made with the producer, according to published reports. Mr. Sender, whose hedge fund once had more than $1 billion in assets, admitted in his testimony that he had paid Mr. Pellicano about $500,000 to investigate Mr. Russo. Mr. Russo died of bladder cancer last year at age 64, following a film career that included producing the 1983 hit comedy "Trading Places." Mr. Pellicano faces wiretapping and racketeering charges stemming from the investigation of Mr. Russo, but does not face any charges regarding Mr. Sender's accusations.