Actor Accused of Stabbing Faces Reduced Bail

A California judge has reduced by millions the bail amount of the Indian-origin U.S. actor Shelley Malil, who is accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend.

The 43-year-old actor allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend Kendra Beebe more than 20 times at her home in San Diego, California, last month.

A veteran Hollywood actor best known for his performance in the hit 2005 comedy “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” Malil was being held on $10 million bail and on Friday, a Superior Court judge reduced it to $3 million.

Malil’s attorney, Steve Meiser, argued that the higher figure was unreasonable and that his client was not a flight risk.

Malil pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted murder, with a special circumstance of premeditation and one count of personal use of a knife and inflicting great bodily injury.

Lawyers for Beebe, 35, claim their client sustained life-threatening stab wounds to her lungs and throat but prosecutors said she was expected to recover.

Malil faces life in prison if convicted of all charges. He is next due in court on Oct 3 for a status hearing. The actor, was born in Kerala in 1964 and migrated to U.S. at the age of 10, has played a supporting role in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” besides appearing in dozens of TV shows including “NYPD Blue” and “Scrubs.”