Trial Ordered in Anna Nicole Smith Case

The former boyfriend-attorney and two doctors of Anna Nicole Smith have been ordered to stand trial for illegally providing her with prescription drugs prior to her 2007 overdose death. Howard K. Stern, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor and Dr. Khristine Eroshevich will face trial on charges that include providing drugs to an addict.

The three will be arraigned Dec. 11 on conspiracy charges.

Superior Court Judge Robert J. Perry ruled that there was enough evidence that a crime had been committed after a three-week preliminary hearing in which witnesses described the final days of Smith's life and experts examined that amount of drugs that she was prescribed.

Judge Perry ruled that the prosecution had indeed proved that Smith was an addict.

Testimony Reveals Smith's Addiction

During the trial, the judge heard testimony from:

• Larry Birkhead, father of Smith's daughter, who said he never saw anyone take as many drugs as Smith did.

• An expert who said there was no legitimate medical reason to give anyone the amount of sedatives and pain killers that Kapoor and Eroshevich provided for Smith.

• A pharmacist who testified that he refused to fill prescriptions ordered by Smith's doctors because taking them would be "pharmaceutical suicide."

During the preliminary hearing, prosecutors attempted to show that the two doctors blurred the line between being physicians and friends to the former Playboy model.

See Also:
Judge Orders Trial in Anna Nicole Smith Drug Case

Earlier Articles:
Testimony Describes Anna Nicole Smith's Final Days
Three Charged in Anna Nicole Smith Drug Case
Anna Nicole Smith's Death 'Accidental'

What Is Your Opinion?
Discuss The Anna Nicole Smith Case

Free Newsletter:
Get the Crime & Punishment Newsletter

^{Photos: P.R. Photo}