LOS ANGELES (AP) — An appellate court says a trial judge erred in dismissing conspiracy convictions against Anna Nicole Smith's psychiatrist and manager at the end of a contentious trial centering on celebrities' use of prescription drugs.
Superior Court Judge Robert Perry chose to throw out the jury verdict that that manager Howard K. Stern and psychiatrist Khristine Eroshevich conspired to obtain prescription drugs for the troubled model by using false names. The judge found it was not unusual in the celebrity world Smith inhabited for fake names to be used to protect privacy.
The Second District Court of Appeals reversed those findings Thursday saying there was enough evidence to support the conspiracy convictions. It said Stern cannot be tried but Eroshevich might get another trial.
Lawyers called the decision confusing.
