Stern Pleads Not Guilty

5 months ago 14th May 03:35

Anna Nicole Smith's former lawyer-turned-lover Howard K. Stern and two doctors have pleaded not guilty to charges they conspired to give the late model prescription drugs that led to her 2007 overdose.

Stern, 40, and doctors Sandeep Kapoor, 40, and Khristine Eroshevich, 61- Smith's neighbour and psychiatrist - appeared on Wednesday (13May09) before Superior Court Commissioner Kristi Lousteau in Los Angeles to entertheir pleas.

Charges against the trio were filed in March (09) following a two-year investigation by California's Attorney General.

They have been accused of conspiring to keep Smith stocked up with a steady supply of prescription drugs including methadone, clonazepam and chloral hydrate - despite knowing she was an addict.

The two doctors face an additional charge of obtaining a prescription for opiates by fraud, deceit or misrepresentation and prescribing opiates by giving a false name or address.

An 8 June (09) court date has been issued to determine when a preliminary hearing will begin, though defence attorneys have filed a motion asking the case be thrown out.

Stern, Kapoor and Eroshevich face up to 33 years behind bars if found guilty of all charges.

Smith died of an accidental overdose in a Florida hotel room, aged 39.