Spears custody trial 'most significant'

Kevin Federline's lawyer has described Britney Spears' upcoming custody hearing over her two sons as the "most significant" yet.

Mark Vincent Kaplan said police and emergency service staff who attended the singer's home during a custody row on January 3 will testify in private today.

He told The Associated Press that he did not know if Spears would attend, although he added: "You can't phone this one in."

Kaplan explained that court orders granting sole custody to Federline following the dispute had been a temporary measure, saying: "These are very, very draconian orders. Because of that the court wanted to have a hearing to give her and her attorneys the opportunity to refute some of the declarations.

"No judge likes making orders terminating a person's involvement with their kids."

Experts believe the hearing provides Spears' only hope of regaining visiting rights to her children ahead of a custody trial in April.

She reportedly threatened to commit suicide last week over fears her parents will seek a court order forcing her into a mental hospital.