Hollywood star Woody Harrelson has been accused of assaulting a photographer.

The actor and peace campaigner who rose to fame portraying psychopathic gun-toting mass murderers in films like Natural Born Killers is said to have attacked snapper Josh Levine outside a Hollywood nightclub.

According to witnesses the dispute occurred when Harrelson asked photographers to desist from taking his picture as he left Element in LA . He is said to have become enraged when they refused to comply.

After words were exchanged a fight ensued in which the Harrelson is alleged to have placed his hands around the photographer’s throat in an attempt to throttle him.

Levine’s colleagues, in the grand tradition of the media – a caring and supportive industry of which starving sharks are known to be envious, came to his assistance by filming the altercation to ensure ‘there was enough evidence to assist a prosecution’.

Detective Padilla of the LAPD told TMZ.Com the case will be presented to the DA in early July ‘With the tapes and all, it’s pretty good evidence’ .

Harrelson is said to be an admirer of Mahatma Ghandi , the Indian nationalist and non-violent civil rights campaigner, who, amongst other things is quoted as saying
‘I believe in equality for everyone, except reporters and photographers’.