Stern's Attorney Blames Smith's Doctors As Judge Bans Lesbian Talk

1 month ago 17th Oct 04:39

An attorney for Anna Nicole Smith's companion Howard K. Stern has defended his client against accusations he conspired to supply the late model with drugs, insisting he trusted the star's doctors to do the right thing.

Stern and his associates Dr Khristine Eroshevich and Dr Sandeep Kapoor are currently on trial in Los Angeles, charged with conspiracy to dope up the blonde bombshell with a variety of prescription drugs.

All three have pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

Smith's former bodyguard Maurice Brighthaupt testified in court on Wednesday (14Oct09), revealing he often witnessed Stern inject the tragic model with drugs.

But Stern's attorney Steve Sadow has spoken out to distance his client from the medics, suggesting the doctors were responsible for any wrongdoing because they should have known better.

Sadow claims Stern was only following the doctors' orders and thought he was acting in his lover's best interests.

Howard did what he thought was best for Anna

In an interview on U.S. TV's Today Show, he said, "She suffered from seizures and she had medical problems (as a result of plastic surgery).

"(Stern) wasn't in a position of telling a doctor, 'Aren't you wrong inwhat you're doing?' The doctor was explaining why the regiment of prescribed drugs was being done.

"There wasn't a choice of being an enabler or not being an enabler. Howard did what he thought was best for Anna".

Former Playboy model Smith died from an accidental drug overdose in February 2007.

The case continues.

Meanwhile The judge overseeing a court case involving Anna Nicole Smith's former lover has banned questioning about the late star's alleged affair with her female doctor.

Howard K. Stern - along with Dr Sandeep Kapoor and Dr Khristine Eroshevich - is facing charges of conspiracy to provide Smith with prescriptiondrugs.

All three have pleaded not guilty, and a Los Angeles court is holding apreliminary hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence to take the case to trial.

Prosecutors allege the late model struck up a sexual relationship with Eroshevich, and that the affair motivated the doctor to grant Smith's demands for more medication.

But Superior Court Judge Robert Perry objected to the allegation, whichwas raised during the questioning of Smith's bodyguard, Maurice Brighthaupt, telling prosecutors, "I'm not buying this. What's the relevance?" He went on to ban questioning on the subject, admitting he wanted to avoid turning the trial into "a circus sideshow".

News of the alleged affair surfaced last month (Sep09) when court papers revealed the existence of photos depicting the two women naked togetherin a bathtub in "various intimate embraces".