Update
Florida Officials Reexamining Anna Nicole's Death
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So much for resting in peace.
Following the arrests of Anna Nicole Smith's lawyer and doctors, officials in Florida are reexamining the circumstances surrounding her death.
Howard K. Stern and Drs. Sandeep Kapoor and Khristine Eroshevich were busted earlier this month for allegedly supplying Smith with illicit drugs.
"Our prosecutors have met with representatives of the Los Angeles district attorney's office and the California Department of Justice and discussed the evidence they have turned up in their investigation," says Ron Ishoy, the spokesman for Ft. Lauderdale State Attorney Mike Satz.
"We are now investigating that evidence to see where it might lead in relation to Ms. Smith's death here in Broward County in 2007."
Legal experts say that Sunshine State prosecutors may reopen the case if they find evidence that the defendants illegally administered drugs to Smith, which ultimately caused her death.
"If what they know is criminal felony conduct lead to the death, then they could be considering whether or not they can bring a secondary murder charge or an involuntary manslaughter charge against any or all of these people," says Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Alec Rose, who is not directly involved in the case.
It does not matter how much time has gone by since the case closed, explains Rose.
"In most jurisdictions the statute of limitation for murder is unlimited," he says. "There's never a time limit to investigate a charge of murder. A criminal charge can usually be brought in any location where any part of the crime took place."
There was no comment from either the Los Angeles district attorney or California attorney general's office on the Florida probe.
Stern, Kapoor and Eroshevich were charged with felony conspiracy to furnish drugs to Smith and prescribing, administering or dispensing a controlled substance to an addict. They are currently free on bail and have proclaimed their innocence.
"These individuals repeatedly and excessively furnished thousands of prescription pills to Anna Nicole Smith, often for no legitimate medical purpose," California Attorney General Jerry Brown said earlier this month.
"There is ample evidence that Dr. Eroshevich and Dr. Kapoor violated their ethical obligations as physicians, while Mr. Stern funneled highly addictive drugs to Ms. Smith."
(Originally published March 24, 2009, at 2:10 p.m. PT)
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