The rapper had been in LA recording his debut album

A man accused of killing an up-and-coming US rapper has been cleared by a Los Angeles jury.

Aubrey Louis Berry, 24, was accused of shooting 21-year-old rapper Dolla in the head at a crowded shopping centre in May 2009.

Prosecutors claimed he had asked a valet to bring his car while he was still holding the gun.

But defence lawyers argued that Mr Berry had feared for his life and pulled the trigger in self-defence.

Dolla, whose real name was Roderick Anthony Burton, had been in Los Angeles to record his debut album.

The rapper caught the attention of singer and producer Akon at the age of 12 as he performed with friends in Atlanta.

The two collaborated on Dolla’s first single, which also featured rapper T-Pain.

Another single, Feelin’ Myself, was on the soundtrack of 2006 dance film Step Up.

Gyllenhaal beefed up for the role and grew his hair

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal says he wants to be taken “a little less seriously” as an actor, and would love the Prince of Persia to become a franchise.

The 29-year-old, known for dramatic roles including Brokeback Mountain, said recognition as the Disney blockbuster hero would be an “honour”.

“I think about kids saying ‘you’re the Prince of Persia!’ That I wouldn’t mind being locked into,” he said.

Based on a video game, the fantasy film is released in the UK on 21 May.

Stars of the film, including Gyllenhaal and British actress Gemma Arterton, have also signed a deal for a sequel, but producers have stressed that the success of the initial outing – The Sands of Time – will secure a second movie.

Worked hard

The film is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, who is behind the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise starring Johnny Depp.

Gyllenhaal, who shot to fame in indie hit Donnie Darko, said he wants to be taken “a little less seriously” as an actor.

“I wanted to fulfil the dreams of those movies I loved watching, like Robin Hood with Errol Flynn,” he added of his new swashbuckling role.

“Who knows in two or three years time what other weird thing I’ll do?” said the star.

Mike Newell, who directed Prince of Persia, admitted that he was initially unsure about Gyllenhaal in the role of an action hero.

But the UK film-maker added that the actor “worked his arse off” to make it work, including intensive physical training and cultivating a British accent.

“He was wonderful and absolutely took it on,” said Newell, whose other credits include the fourth Harry Potter film and Four Weddings and A Funeral.

The film’s UK premiere is due to take place at London’s Westfield shopping complex on Sunday.

Haim was laid to rest in March in Canada

Lost Boys star Corey Haim died of pneumonia not directly linked to drug abuse, a post mortem has found.

The 1980s film actor, who died in March aged 38, had low levels of drugs in his blood, but not “at a level that would have contributed to his death”.

Haim’s lungs were damaged and his heart and liver enlarged, added Los Angeles coroner’s spokesman Craig Harvey.

The Canadian-born star had long battled drug abuse, including prescription medication.

‘Doctor shopping’

Haim collapsed in his mother’s apartment and had been suffering from flu-like symptoms.

California’s attorney general said he had been obtaining prescription pills from various sources using a variety of names, known as “doctor shopping”.

He had used this method to obtain various painkillers including Oxycontin.

But none of the drug was found in his system during the post mortem examination, Mr Harvey said.

He added that it was unclear how long he had been ill for and if earlier treatment might have saved him from the effects of pneumonia.

In recent years Haim starred in reality TV show The Two Coreys with his friend Corey Feldman, which was cancelled after two series.