Boyfriend and Two Doctors Ordered to Trial In Anna Nicole Smith Case

Three pleads of not guilty rang like echoes after Superior Court Judge Robert J. Perry ordered Anna Nicole Smith's boyfriend and two doctors to stand trial for supplying her with subscription drugs.

This Friday ruling concluded a three-week hearing to determine if there was enough evidence to try lawyer Howard K. Stern, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor and Dr. Khristine Eroshevich for providing drugs to an addict.

Despite it being only a preliminary hearing, many convincing and potentially incriminating testimonies were presented against the three defendants. The father of Smith's young daughter, Larry Birkhead, described the extent of his former lover's addiction. A bodyguard relived his futile attempts to save her both in her final days and final minutes. A pharmacist testified to denying prescriptions written by Eroshevich due to potentially disastrous effects. But the most powerful was when former nanny claimed boyfriend Stern would constantly persuade her to consume drugs as a way to maintain control. Smith would reportedly sleep for three days straight after taking drugs from Stern.

Parallel to this last, the prosecutors painted an image of the doctors posing as friends to the former model. Trust gained, she was less likely to question anything they pushed her way. Defense attorneys cross-examined witnesses, but will hold-out on presenting their own until trial.

Arraignment is set for Dec. 11.