BREAKING NEWS: AWOL Defendant In Anna Nicole Death Case Appears In Court; Arrest Threat Dropped
Jun. 8 2009, Published 5:50 a.m. ET
Dr. Sandeep Kapoor complied with a judge's order and showed up in court late Monday upon threat of arrest after he missed a court hearing earlier Monday morning.
Kapoor -- one of three defendants charged in connection with the death of Anna Nicole Smith -- failed to show up at a court hearing at 8:30am PST.
According to his attorney, Kapoor, 40, was missing because of a medical emergency to one of his patients, who is in hospice. The judge declared that reason unacceptable, and ordered an arrest warrant to be issued for him should he not show up at the Los Angeles court by 11:00 A.M. PST Monday.
When Kapoor showed up by the deadline, the judge recalled the arrest threat and said Kapoor could remain free on bail. The judge also ordered him to appear in court August 12th for a preliminary hearing.
At that same date, the two other defendants in the case - Smith's former boyfriend/attorney Howard K. Stern and 61-year-old Dr. Kristine Eroshevich -- will also face a preliminary hearing.
After the hearing, Dr. Kapoor leaves the courthouse with his lawyer and RadarOnline.com has the exclusive video above.
- 'She Would Be Amazing': Anna Nicole's Close Friends Set Sights on Rising Star to Play Late Icon in Book-Turned-Biopic
- Anna Nicole Smith's Body Was Nearly Exhumed to Determine if There Was a Cover-Up After Death of Star and Her Son Daniel
- Anna Nicole Smith's Anguished Family Members Were Convinced of Murder Plot After Playmate's Untimely Death
All three defendants are accused of suppling a variety of prescription drugs to Smith which allegedly led to the reality star's 2007 death.
The judge is expected on August 12th to decide whether or not there is enough evidence to move the issue to trial.