Defense Wraps Up Final Arguments In Smith Drug Case

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A lawyer for Howard K. Stern has concluded his final argument in the Anna Nicole Smith drug conspiracy case, telling jurors Stern trusted two doctors on trial with him to ease Smith's suffering with drugs.

Attorney Steve Sadow stressed that he was speaking for Stern, but in denying his client was part of a conspiracy, he advocated for all three defendants. Their lawyers spoke earlier.

He said the doctors acted in good faith prescribing medication for Smith's physical and emotional pain. And he said Stern, who is a lawyer, was not qualified to second guess their medical judgment.

Stern and Drs. Sandeep Kapoor and Khristine Eroshevich have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to give the model excessive opiates and sedatives to feed an addiction.

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