COURTNEY LOVE - COURTNEY STRIKES A DEAL

COURTNEY LOVE's legal team is negotiating a deal to resolve drug charges stemming from an October (03) arrest in Los Angeles.

Under the deal, charges against the 39-year-old would be dropped if Love completes a drug treatment program.

JERRY BAIK, an assistant attorney with the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, says, "It's a great idea for her because she can probably benefit from the programme, and if she completes it she won't have a conviction in the case."

If Love fails to complete the programme, she'll be sentenced to 90 days in jail, according to the plea agreement.

Baik claims that, following her arrest, Love tested positive for several drugs, including cocaine.

Yesterday (03MAY04), Los Angeles Superior Court Judge PATRICIA SCHNEGG ordered the two sides of the case back on 25 May (04) to cement the deal or start trial.

She snarled, "No more delays. This case has gone just way too long."

During a recent hearing, officers testified they arrested Love after she broke windows at her boyfriend's house, and she admitted she was on "Hillbilly Heroin" - a euphemism for prescription painkiller OXYCONTIN.

Love, the widow of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, also faces charges of illegal possession of prescription painkillers in a separate case in Beverly Hills.