Miss Machado and her boyfriend deny involvement in an attack in Caracas in which the boyfriend's brother-in-law was shot in the head.
The former Miss Universe is accused of driving her boyfriend, Juan Rodriguez, from the scene of the shooting.
![[ image: width=150]](/olmedia/50000/images/_50883_machado150.jpg)
The incident happened last November after the funeral of Mr Rodriguez's sister.
Prosecutors say Mr Rodriguez blamed his brother-in-law for driving her to suicide.
They allege that he shot Francisco Sbert twice in the head, causing brain damage.
Miss Machado says she was filming a soap opera at the time.
The drama outside the courtroom proved too much for Miss Machado. After thanking journalists at a new conference for listening she burst into tears.
Television programmes in Venezuela are peppered with images of former beauty queens.
Venezuela has produced more winners of the Miss Universe and Miss World contests than any other country.
After winning the Miss Universe title in 1996, Miss Machado announced that all she wanted to do was "eat, eat and eat".
Her subsequent weight gain, and battle to lose it, was the subject of intense media coverage, particularly in Latin America.
Miss Universe
Miss Venezuela official website
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Policies come first - Hillary
Clinton threatens Saddam
Apartheid police considered Winnie 'untouchable'
Balloon hopes soar with safe launch
Diplomatic efforts to solve Iraq crisis
Death sentences in Gandhi trial
Romanov remains to be buried
(From Despatches)
Policemen burn to death in Paris flat
French jobless support 35-hour week
Cookbook author Fergie admits: 'I can't cook'
Japanese Finance Minister bows out
(From Business)
WHO names new leader
Bosnian Serb police reunified
Burmese aircraft crashes
50 years of the WHO - successes and failures
(From Special Report)