She and her husband Ben first became aware that the police were on their case when they were tipped off by a young actress, also called Norma, who was on her way to a party the Minellis were throwing to celebrate the arrival of their new daughter, Liza. Spotting the Barzmans having an alfresco gin and tonic, the actress told them that she had been stopped by cops at the bottom of their street and asked if she was going to visit them. Two years later, in exile, Ben spotted a photo of the actress in a newspaper. She had changed her name to Marilyn Monroe.
