Judge 'orders trial in Smith drug case'

A Los Angeles judge has ordered Anna Nicole Smith's boyfriend and two doctors to stand trial on charges of illegally providing prescription drugs to the late Playboy model.

The ruling today follows a three-week preliminary hearing to determine if there was sufficient evidence to try Howard K. Stern, Dr Sandeep Kapoor and Dr Khristine Eroshevich. All three have pleaded not guilty.

The hearing closely examined Smith's troubled life and the role the defendants allegedly played in feeding her drug addiction before she died of an accidental overdose in 2007. Prosecutors are arguing that the doctors blurred the line between being physicians and friends to the celebrity model, The AP reports.

The judge also allowed a video of Smith to be used as evidence, though it was not played in court.

However, Superior Court judge Robert J. Perry ruled that he could not be certain if the 2006 video of Smith painting her face like a clown at a child's birthday party conclusively showed that she was under the influence of drugs.

Lawyers for Stern - Smith's boyfriend at the time she died - have objected to admitting the video at the preliminary hearing.

Prosecutors have concluded their case and defence lawyers stated that they have no witnesses. Both sides will make further arguments before Perry decides whether to order a trial.