Love court in the action

Sat, Nov 27, 2004

Joseph Charles

Not very encouraging signs about the mental well-being of Hole’s chief howler, Courtney Love.

Facing drug charges, the People vs Larry Flynt star rocked up to proceedings two hours late.

Someone should have reminded her it was more important than a public appearance for a record launch.

During the hearing she was reprimanded by the judge in Beverly Hills, California, after talking out of turn in court.

Her attorney Michael Rosenstein, succeeded in delaying the preliminary hearing after arguing that witnesses needed to be brought in from out of state and that he had not received drug samples for testing.

But this didn't stop the troubled Love from demanding her right to speak.

She claimed to have the prescriptions for the drugs in questions: "I have the pill bottles on me," she claimed to an unimpressed court.

And then she appeared to fire her lawyer and then reinstate him almost immediately.

She was reported to have said to her attorney, "You're fired."

While Superior Court Judge Elden Fox tried to calm events by saying: "Miss Love, you're not doing yourself any favours,"

"Rehired," Love replied to her lawyer.

Love is charged with illegal possession of the painkillers hydrocodone and oxycodone.

She was arrested in October after allegedly trying to break into the LA home of a former boyfriend.

The hearing has been rescheduled for April 15.

Court adjourned, and a good thing too.