Spears custody hearing starts without pop star

TROUBLED pop star Britney Spears was nowhere to be seen yesterday at a court hearing convened in the pop star’s child custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Federline and his lawyer were on hand as Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon began the hearing, which was scheduled after Mr Gordon earlier this month suspended Spears’ right to visit her two sons.

Mr Gordon allowed reporters into the courtroom for about one minute before he announced that the hearing was being closed.