High praise to Roger Diamond, lawyer for Max Factor heir Andrew Luster who disappeared in the middle of his rape trial. Diamond tried to halt the trial, the judge said no, and Diamond is now trying the case in abstentia.

Diamond said on Wednesday that "he would vigorously defend his missing client in court" while police continued searching for him.

"Attorney Roger John Diamond failed to have Luster's trial halted until the 39-year-old millionaire surfaced so must proceed with an empty chair in the Ventura, California courtroom where his client once sat."

"Ever since Monday I've been doing the best I can to defend the case," Diamond told Reuters in an interview. "It would be helpful to have the defendant's input but I'm still going to do a good job for him. I'm fighting as hard as I can."

Good for you, Roger, and even better for your client.