Actor denies murder attempt on former girlfriend

WASHINGTON: Indian born actor Shelley Malil, best known for his performance in  The 40 year Old Virgin , has pleaded not guilty in a court to a charge of attempted murder following his arrest for allegedly stabbing his former girlfriend 20 times.

The 43 year old actor from Kerala is said to face the possibility of life in prison if convicted in the attack, according to a spokesman for the San Diego County District Attorney's Office.

Malil was detained on Monday night on suspicion of stabbing 35 year old Kendra Beebe at her home in San Marcos, north of San Diego and was ordered held in lieu of a $ 10 million bond after a superior Court made a determination that he was a flight risk.

According to a report in The Los Angeles Times the charges against Malil include allegations of using a knife, domestic violence and causing grave bodily injury to Beebe.

Beebe remains hospitalised but is expected to survive.

The prosecution has argued that Malil appeared on the back patio of Beebe s house and attacked her with a knife causing 20 wounds while her two children slept upstairs.

According to a statement issued by the San Diego Police Malil and the victim  had apparently been in a dating relationship which recently ended.

Malil played Haziz, one of star Steve Carell's co-workers at an electronics retail store in  The 40 Year Old Virgin  and has also appeared in dozens of TV shows, including NYPD Blue and Scrubs.

It is said that Malil first came to Hollywood in 1995, after a two year stint at New York s famed American Academy of Dramatic Arts.