Stallone listed to support Snipes

Wesley Snipes wanted the trial moved from Florida claiming racism

Celebrities including Sylvester Stallone, Muhammad Ali and Spike Lee could be called to court in the trial of actor Wesley Snipes.

Mr Snipes is being prosecuted on charges of tax fraud and conspiracy.

He has listed more than 70 potential character witnesses to defend him against accusations of cheating the US government out of $12m (£6m) in tax.

His trial has just started in Florida, after being twice delayed due to work commitments and volume of paperwork.

Mr Snipes arrived at Ocala Federal Courthouse looking confident in a black suit and designer spectacles.

He received support from several dozen pastors from across central Florida who turned up to pray for him.

He faces two counts of conspiracy to commit tax fraud and six counts of failing to file tax returns.

But Mr Snipes says he is a scapegoat and has been unfairly targeted. If convicted he faces up to 16 years in prison.

Arrest warrant

Also in the dock are two co-defendants, Ray Kahn and Douglas P Rosile, both known tax protestors.

An arrest warrant was issued in October for the 44-year-old while he was filming Gallow Walker in Namibia.

He was not forced to leave the country as the African nation does not have an extradition treaty with the US.

The actor's first role was in Goldie Hawn's 1986 American football comedy Wildcats, and he later appeared in the video for Michael Jackson's Bad, which was directed by Martin Scorsese.

He also appeared in hit films such as White Men Can't Jump, Passenger 57 and the Blade trilogy.