ANNA NICOLE SMITH - SMITH'S FORMER DOCTOR FAILS TO SHOW FOR COURT HEARING

SMITH'S FORMER DOCTOR FAILS TO SHOW FOR COURT HEARING

The doctor accused of conspiring to illegally prescribe the drugs that led to ANNA NICOLE SMITH's 2007 overdose is facing arrest after failing to show up for a court hearing on Monday morning (08Jun09).
Sandeep Kapoor, Khristine Eroshevich - Smith's neighbour and psychiatrist - and the late model's former lawyer-turned-lover Howard K. Stern, entered not guilty pleas before Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Kristi Lousteau last month (May09).
Charges against the trio were filed in March (09) following a two-year investigation by California's Attorney General.
They have been accused of conspiring to keep Smith stocked up with a steady supply of prescription drugs including methadone, clonazepam and chloral hydrate - despite knowing she was an addict.
The two doctors face an additional charge of obtaining a prescription for opiates by fraud, deceit or misrepresentation and prescribing opiates by giving a false name or address.
The 8 June (09) court date was been issued to determine the preliminary hearing date now set for 12 August (09), though defence attorneys have filed a motion asking the case be thrown out.
Kapoor's attorney claims a medical emergency involving his client's patient caused him to miss the court appearance.
The judge has agreed to hold back on the arrest warrant until 11:00 am local time pending his arrival, reports TMZ.com.
Kapoor, along with Stern and Eroshevich - who were both present for the hearing - face up to 33 years behind bars if found guilty of all charges.
Smith died from an accidental overdose in a Florida hotel room, aged 39.