Fight over Heath Ledger's death leads to charges for Stratford woman

STRATFORD -- A Stratford woman was arrested Sunday after police said she choked a friend at her birthday party during a disagreement over how actor Heath Ledger died.

Police said Amy Galaz, 32, invited four female friends to her home on Second Hill Lane Saturday night to celebrate her birthday. Galaz and a 23-year-old party guest began to argue over how Ledger died, police said.

Police said the argument turned physical when Galaz took hold of the victim and broke her wine glass in her hand, thereby slicing two of her fingers. Police said Galaz then began to choke the victim by tightening her legs around the victim's neck. Galaz then pushed the victim against a door frame, causing her to fall down, police said.

The women had been drinking wine, police said.

Police charged Galaz with second-degree strangulation, third-degree assault and disorderly conduct.

Ledger, an Australian-born actor, died in 2008 at age 28 from a toxic combination of prescription drugs. His death came before the release of "The Dark Knight," a movie in which he played the Joker and won several awards posthumously.