Anna Nicole Smith trial verdict 'thrown out'

Anna Nicole Smith's former partner Howard K. Stern has been exonerated by a Los Angeles judge, after previously being found guilty of supplying drugs to the late model.

In October, Stern and Smith's psychiatrist Khristine Eroshevich were found guilty of conspiring to supply the ex-Playboy model excessive amounts of prescription medication in a jury trial. Eroshevich was also found guilty of felony prescription drug fraud.

However, Los Angeles County Superior Court judge Robert J. Perry today overturned the conspiracy charges, saying that there was no evidence to support them.

Judge Perry also said that Smith's former doctor had been acting out of concern for her patient, and downgraded Eroshevich's fraud charge to a misdemeanour, for which she was sentenced to one year of probation.

District Attorney Steve Cooley slammed the decision, saying: "[The ruling] diminishes the huge social problem of prescription drug abuse facilitated by irresponsible caretakers and unscrupulous medical professionals."

Cooley added that he plans to appeal the decision.