Meghan’s family defend gun charge brother
The half-brother of Prince Harry’s girlfriend Meghan Markle has been arrested on gun charges in the US
EVERY family has one, as Kate Middleton can testify.
She has had to endure the embarrassment of her black sheep uncle Gary Goldsmith ever since he was involved in a drugs sting in 2009.
Now it’s the turn of Meghan Markle, whose half-brother Thomas was arrested on gun charges in the US.
Members of the family suggested last night the incident was unlikely to cause problems for Prince Harry’s actress girlfriend and that there could be ‘another side’ to the story.
But eyebrows were raised after Markle was accused of holding a gun to the head of his girlfriend Darlene Blount during a drunken row at their home.
She locked herself in her bathroom and called police, who arrested Markle at their flat in Oregon. His mug shot, in which he appears red-faced and dishevelled, was later released online.
The incident on Thursday night follows reports that Miss Markle and Prince Harry’s relationship is serious. The star of the US legal drama Suits, who has the same father as Thomas, has been dating the prince for several months after being introduced by mutual friends in July.
The 35-year- old actress has visited Harry in London at least twice, and has stayed at Kensington Palace. She has also recently met the Duchess of Cambridge, it has been reported, while Prince Harry has met her father, Thomas Markle Sr, 72, the father of Thomas Jr, 50, with his first wife, Roslyn, 71.
They also have a daughter, Samantha, 51, who said in Florida yesterday she did not believe her brother, a picture framer, could be guilty of such a violent crime.
The 51-year-old mother-of-three, also known as Samantha Grant, added: ‘This is not in his character at all. He has never been in trouble with the police before – he is not a violent man.
‘We don’t know the full story yet, we don’t know this woman, what she was doing to him – it could have been self- defence. She is a new girlfriend, we don’t know her.’
Asked if she thought her brother would be concerned about how his arrest would affect Meghan, she said: ‘I don’t think that would be on his mind.
‘As most people know, you are not your brother’s keeper and there is always another side to a story.’
Thomas Sr, who married Meghan’s mother, yoga teacher Doria, 60, after divorcing his first wife, could not be reached for comment about his son’s arrest yesterday.
The former Hollywood lighting director is thought to be living in Mexico after he was declared bankrupt in the US, owing £24,600.
The unwelcome attention the incident has brought is reminiscent of lurid reports of the behaviour of the Duchess of Cambridge’s heavily tattooed uncle Gary.
The brother of Kate’s mother Carole has attracted publicity ever since William and his wife spent holidays at Maison de Bang Bang, the party-loving millionaire’s Ibiza villa, early in their courtship.
Mr Goldsmith, who once dated a former lapdancer, revels in the nickname ‘Goldtaps’ and caused major embarrassment to his sister Carole when he was caught up in a tabloid sting in 2009.
He was caught on camera at his mansion snorting cocaine with a 100- euro note and offering to obtain Brazilian prostitutes for Mazher Mamood, the ‘fake sheikh’ undercover reporter for the now defunct News of the World newspa- per. The arrest of Markle came after officers were called to a disturbance at a block of flats in the city of Grants Pass, Oregon, at around 11.15pm on Thursday.
Police said the couple were having an argument when Markle grabbed a gun and pressed it to his girlfriend’s head, telling her to leave the home. She was said to be shaken up but not injured.
Markle has been charged with menacing, pointing a firearm at another person and unlawful use of a weapon, police records show.
After the gun was seized, he was taken to Josephine County Jail and held for the night before being released at 10am on Friday.
His bail was set at $1,500 (£1,250) and his ex-wife Tracy Dooley said he called her at 3am to ask her to help raise the cash.
Miss Dooley said: ‘I don’t want this to be embarrassing for Meghan. He wants what’s best for her. He is so happy and proud for her.
‘They used to be very close but
‘It could have been self-defence’ ‘He had a tendency to drink too much’
there has been some separation over the years. The last thing he would want to do is to hurt her.’
Miss Dooley, a recovering alcoholic, said her ex-husband also has issues with drink. The pair were married for 11 years until they divorced in 2001.
‘When he called he sounded very sad and asked if I would help to get him out of jail,’ she said.
‘I hope this incident helps him get the help he needs to deal with alcohol issues he might have.’
She added: ‘He had issues with alcohol during our marriage, as I did. My life was a mess until I got sober. Tom and I partied a lot when we were married. He had a tendency to drink too much.
‘I’m sure Meghan would want him to get the help he needs.’