Convictions returned in Smith trial
LOS ANGELES – A jury Thursday convicted Anna Nicole Smith’s psychiatrist and boyfriend of conspiring to use false names to obtain prescription drugs for the former Playboy model and reality TV star but acquitted the doctor who prescribed a plethora of drugs for her.
Additional Photos
Prosecutors contended during the nine-week trial that the defendants were dazzled by Smith’s glamor and filled her demands for prescription drugs to protect their insider status in her personal life and her celebrity world.
The jury was asked to decide if the three defendants were trying to relieve Smith’s emotional and physical pain or were feeding her addiction to prescription drugs.
Smith eventually died of an accidental drug overdose in Florida in 2007, but the defendants were not charged in her death.
Dr. Sandeep Kapoor said he felt “shellshocked and exhilarated” about being acquitted.
The only conviction against Smith’s boyfriend-lawyer Howard K. Stern was for giving false names and acting by fraud to obtain prescriptions. He was acquitted of seven other charges.
Along with conspiracy, psychiatrist Khristine Eroshevich was convicted of unlawfully prescribing Vicodin by fraud. The jury deadlocked on several counts against her.
Fergie named Billboard ‘Woman of the Year’
NEW YORK – The Dutchess is being crowned “Woman of the Year” by Billboard magazine.
Fergie will be given the honor on Dec. 2 at a ceremony in New York City. The only female member of the Black Eyed Peas said she’s “humbled” to accept the award and called it a “great career achievement.”
The honor pays tribute to a trail-blazing female artist and her accomplishments.
Though Fergie’s only solo album was 2006’s multi-platinum “The Dutchess,” she’s continued to sell out venues and score hits with the Black Eyed Peas. They have a new CD, “The Beginning,” out Nov. 30.
Mariah Carey confirms that she is expecting
NEW YORK – Mariah Carey is going to have to add lullabies to her repertoire.
The superstar singer confirmed on NBC’s “Today” show Thursday that she and husband Nick Cannon are expecting their first child. Carey said the baby is due in the spring.
Carey had declined to discuss her pregnancy, the subject of rampant speculation for months, until now.
“Yes, we are pregnant, it’s true,” she said in an interview with “Access Hollywood’s” Billy Bush that was shown on “Today.”
Carey, 40, and Cannon, 30, have been the subject of a baby watch since they got married after a whirlwind romance two years ago.
Quaid attends hearing
LVANCOUVER, British Columbia – Actor Randy Quaid says a group of Hollywood bankers, lawyers and executives is out to ruin him as he continues to seek refugee status in Canada following his arrest on U.S. warrants.
Quaid made the comments Thursday after he attended an immigration hearing in Vancouver, British Columbia, to determine if he would be admissible as a refugee in Canada. Quaid and his wife were arrested in Vancouver last week and jailed on outstanding U.S. warrants related to vandalism charges in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
