Court drug ruling clears way for Love trial

A JUDGE rejected a motion to suppress drugs evidence in the case against rocker Courtney Love, clearing the way for her trial later this month.

Had Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg upheld the motion, prosecutors would not have been able to introduce key evidence including urine samples and some of Love's statements into evidence at the trial, set for April 16.

"It would have killed our case," said Assistant City Attorney Jerry Baik after yesterday's hearing. "This was a vital ruling."

Love widow of legendary Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain who committed suicide ten years ago this week was not present at the hearing.

The 39-year-old was arrested last October outside an ex-boyfriend's house. Police said she was wandering down the driveway with an unsteady gait and slurred speech. The singer told officers she lived at the house and was trying to retrieve a CD, and volunteered that she had broken some windows. Her ex-boyfriend declined to press vandalism charges.

A policeman said when he pulled up Love was waving at a police helicopter hovering overhead with its spotlight fixed on her.

Love's lawyer, Michael Rosenstein, argued that although Love admitted to officers she had taken "hillbilly heroin", the street name for oxycontin, they did not know at the time that she was taking it without a prescription. He also said she had a taxi waiting and was not going to drive under the influence.

Love is charged with two counts of drug possession for allegedly illegally possessing the painkillers hydrocodone and oxycodone.

She also faces assault charges in New York for allegedly throwing a microphone stand and striking a man in the head at a nightclub.