MIAMI — In a book to be released today, the flamboyant judge brought to fame in the fight over Anna Nicole Smith’s remains says he believes someone is guilty of manslaughter in the starlet’s death and second-guesses his own decision over where she is buried.
Larry Seidlin, the former Fort Lauderdale judge, is harshly critical of Smith’s lawyer-turned-companion Howard K. Stern, and of the police investigations into the deaths of the Playboy Playmate and her son. But as provocatively titled as “The Killing of Anna Nicole Smith” is, Seidlin offers no evidence that either death was anything more than the accidental drug overdoses they were deemed.
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“I think enablers should be punished,” Seidlin writes, then refers directly to Stern. “How about keeping her off drugs while she was alive? He was with her every day; how about saying no, and if she kicks your ass out, then goodbye and good luck.”
Seidlin presided over the six-day televised hearing into the fate of Smith’s body, shortly after she died in February 2007 at age 39. His jurisdiction was limited to control of Smith’s body; Florida never charged anyone in connection with her death. A California court is determining whether she was illegally given drugs.
Seidlin has also signed a deal for a television show called “Psychic Court,” in which he’ll seek the input of tarot card readers, astrologers and other psychics to help him decide family court and small claims disputes.
Randy Jackson says family has faith in judicial process
LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson’s youngest brother said Monday that his family is disappointed in a recent ruling allowing a doctor charged in the pop singer’s death to keep his medical license, but they have faith in the judicial process.
Randy Jackson’s statement came a week after a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled he didn’t have the authority to suspend the license of Dr. Conrad Murray.
Murray faces an involuntary manslaughter charge in Jackson’s death nearly a year ago. The cardiologist has pleaded not guilty.
“The recent court proceedings have been difficult for us as a family,” Randy Jackson wrote. “However, it is a necessary process that we are well prepared to endure in our fight for justice for Michael.”
The statement said the Jackson family was disappointed in the ruling, but it expressed support for the California Attorney General’s Office, which sought to suspend Murray’s medical license until his case is decided.
Randy Jackson had to be hospitalized after experiencing chest pains the day after last week’s court hearing, and he thanked doctors and fans for their support.
Randy Jackson accompanied his mother and father and siblings LaToya and Jermaine Jackson to last week’s court hearing.
The Jackson family has shown up at all court hearings in Murray’s case.
Autopsy: Morphine overdose killed Slipknot bassist
DES MOINES, Iowa — Autopsy results show the 38-year-old bassist for the heavy metal band Slipknot died of an accidental overdose of morphine and fentanyl, a synthetic morphine substitute, police said Monday.
Paul Gray was found dead in a suburban Des Moines hotel room May 25.
The autopsy shows he died of an overdose, Urbandale police said in a news release.
No evidence has been found showing Gray had a prescription for the drugs, police spokesman Sgt. Dave Disney said. Police are trying to find out how Gray obtained them.
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