EXCLUSIVE: Anna Nicole Smith's Former Judge Says 'Justice Has Been Served'
May 28 2018, Updated 10:18 a.m. ET
Judge Larry Seidlin has spoken out about Howard K. Stern's guilty verdict in the Anna Nicole Smith drug trial - insisting he got what he deserved.
In an exclusive interview with RadarOnline.com, Seidlin who oversaw the custody trial for Smith's body and is penning the book The Killing Of Anna Nicole Smith, says he is not surprised at the outcome, but believes Stern is shocked.
"This sentence would have shocked the defendants," he said. "But I believe that justice has been served."
While medical internist Sandeep Kapoor walked away a free man, Stern was found guilty on two of the nine charges against him (conspiracy to commit a crime and conspiracy) and Smith's psychiatrist Khristine Eroshevich was slammed on four counts.
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"Kapoor will be thanking his lucky stars right now," said Seidlin. "But for the other two, its going to be a Nightmare On Elm Street.
"Stern could go to jail for up to three years. The judge could slam him, or he could get probation, but that is up to the judge.
"He certainly hasn't gotten off lightly. He has been found guilty of a felony."
Seidlin adds that the case is an important one since it blazes a new trail.
"If any good has come out of this tragic case it's that it has set precedent that doctors and professionals are not immune from facing criminal liability from giving excessive drugs to fragile and weak people."
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The fate of the three defendants went to the six-man, six-woman panel on October 12. They deliberated for nearly two weeks, before returning their verdicts Thursday afternoon.
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On January 6, the District Attorney will decide if Stern and Eroshevich will be face trial again on the charges that caused the jury to deadlock. If the judge shoots down the DA's request for retrial, the pair will be sentenced immediately.