Friday, October 17, 2008

Jury Begins Deliberations in Britney Spears Traffic Trial

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

After hearing closing arguments, a jury began deliberations Friday in Britney Spears's driving-without-a-license trial.

In a half-hour closing argument, prosecutor Michael Amerian told jurors that Spears, 26, should be convicted of the misdemeanor charge because she did not have a California driver's license at the time of a August 2007 fender bender.

"Every significant occurrence of Britney Spears's life has occurred in Los Angeles," he said, referring to her marriage, the birth of her two sons, and divorce. "She is a California resident."

He added that the fact that the singer applied for (but did not receive) a California license four months prior to the accident "shows her intent to stay here."

"If you follow the law and use common sense, you'll find the defendant is guilty," Amerian told the panel.

Spears's defense called her father to testify that Britney considers Louisiana home. The pop star says she had a Louisiana license at the time of the accident (though she since has gotten a California one).

Her lawyer, Michael Flanagan, told jurors that Spears "doesn't want to be here (in California). She's a Louisiana girl. She's only here because of her custody case. She keeps thinking, maybe next month I can go home."

He pointed out that a dozen paparazzi vehicles follow the singer's every move daily. "You got a glimpse of what it's like for her to be here. No doubt that's why she's been driven crazy, why there's a conservatorship, why she was hospitalized," he said. "Do you blame the girl for wanting to go home (to Louisiana)?"

But prosecutor Amerian said there was no hard evidence presented that Spears even had a Louisiana license on the day in question, other than Jamie's testimony.

If convicted, Spears faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Source: People

No comments:

 

Blog designed by Zaid