Gest and Minnelli's marriage only last 16 months

At a hearing on Thursday her lawyers asked for her not to be taped at the forthcoming interview.

"It's putting her in a position of having a video that could end up in the press," her lawyer Dorothy Weber said.

Gest has filed two actions against his wife - one for divorce, and a $10m (�5.5m) suit over alleged assault.

He is also due to reveal details of their acrimonious break-up in a television interview in which he is filmed receiving treatment, including pins being stuck into his face, for injuries which he alleges Minnelli inflicted on him.

He said the interview, to be screened on NBC's Dateline, would allow people to "finally see the truth of what happened between Liza and I".

Excuse

Minnelli has denied attacking her estranged husband during drunken rages and is countersuing for allegedly stealing money from her and seeking $2m (�1.1m) compensation.

On Thursday, State Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich said she understood Minnelli's reluctance to be videotaped, indicating she may excuse her from having her deposition recorded.

But Gest's lawyer, Raoul Felder, said he would appeal any such decision.

"I don't think there should be one rule for Ms Minnelli because she's a movie star and another rule for everyone else," Mr Felder told the judge.

Gest, 50, has been staying in Hawaii, recently saying he was too ill to give his deposition.