Love's Legal Woes Pile Up

LATEST: Courtney Love will face a full trial on charges of disorderly conduct and being under the influence of a controlled substance after a California judge rejected a motion to suppress evidence in the case.

Superior Court Judge PATRICIA SCHNEGG upheld prosecutors' motion to include what they called "vital" evidence in the case yesterday (05APR04).

Without the evidence, including statements and urine samples, prosecution spokesman JERRY BAIK admits, "It would have killed our case."

Love will now stand trial as scheduled on 19 April (04).

The 39-year-old rock star was arrested last October (03) outside the home of an ex-boyfriend. She told police she'd broken some windows.

Arresting officer ANDRE HOWELL has testified he thought Love might be under the influence due to her slurred speech, and called for an officer specially trained in recognising drug use.

Love's attorney MICHAEL ROSENSTEIN argued that police officers had no reason to investigate his client for drug use, and, although the former Hole star admitted taking painkiller OxyContin, police didn't know she was taking it without a prescription at the scene.

Meanwhile, Love also faces two felony counts of drug possession for allegedly illegally possessing the painkillers hydrocodone and oxycodone in BEVERLY HILLS SUPERIOR COURT, and misdemeanour reckless endangerment and third-degree assault charges for allegedly throwing a microphone stand at a fan during a New York concert last month (MAR04).