The doctor accused of conspiring to illegally prescribe the drugs that led to Anna Nicole Smith's 2007 overdose is facing arrest after failing to show up for a court hearing on Monday morning (08Jun09).
Sandeep Kapoor, Khristine Eroshevich - Smith's neighbour and psychiatrist - and the late model's former lawyer-turned-lover Howard K. Stern, entered not guilty pleas before Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Kristi Lousteau last month (May09).
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.
The 8 June (09) court date was been issued to determine the preliminary hearing date now set for 12 August (09), though defense attorneys have filed a motion asking the case be thrown out.
Kapoor's attorney claims a medical emergency involving his client's patient caused him to miss the court appearance.
The judge has agreed to hold back on the arrest warrant until 11:00 am local time pending his arrival, reports TMZ.com.
Kapoor, along with Stern and Eroshevich - who were both present for the hearing - 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.
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