Courtney Love fires trial lawyer

Courtney Love could face up to a year in jail if convicted

Singer Courtney Love has fired the lawyer in her drug trial because she said "he wanted me to plead guilty to something I didn't do".

The ex-Hole star, 39, briefly attended Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday.

She denies a misdemeanour charge of being under the influence of a drug in October 2003, when police said she tried to break her boyfriend's windows.

New lawyer Michael Rosenstein said he needed to familiarise himself with the case before the trial began on 8 March.

The trial had been due to start on Monday, but Judge Patricia Schnegg reluctantly agreed to delay it for two weeks.

"This case is old, way old," she said. If Ms Love pleads not guilty and is convicted, she could face between three months and one year in jail.

But if she pleads guilty or no contest, she could avoid prison and instead enter a drug diversion programme.

Mr Rosenstein said he was "hopeful" of reaching some kind of resolution to the case before it went to trial.

Assistant city attorney Jerry Baik said the court's schedule could push the trial back to 16 March.

'Overdose'

That would put it on the same day as a separate preliminary hearing relating to two felony counts of unlawful possession of prescription painkillers.

She has denied all charges.

Both cases relate to her arrest in October 2003 after police said she damaged her boyfriend's house in the middle of the night.

After being released on bail hours later, she was reportedly taken to hospital and treated for a suspected overdose.