LOS ANGELES — Howard K. Stern refused medical treatment for gal pal Anna Nicole Smith, just three days before her death because he “didn’t want any leaks” about the model’s condition, a cop testified today.
The bombshell testimony came minutes into a preliminary hearing against Stern, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor and Dr. Khristina Eroshevich, who have all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to illegally funneling drugs to the pill-popping model.
A weakened Smith and Stern checked into the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Fla., on Feb. 5. 2007 and she could barely make it through the lobby and up to her room, according to Special Agent Danny Santiago, of the California Department of Justice.
Smith’s traveling party asked the hotel to find a doctor to make a house call, but before the physician could arrive, Stern told Hard Rock executives to cancel the order, employees told Santiago.
“They [Stern and Smith’s traveling party] didn’t want any leaks getting out on Anna’s physical condition,” said Santiago.
‘‘Mr. Stern had called her [a hotel staffer] and said to cancel the doctor. ‘We don’t need ‘em anymore.’’’
Smith was found unconscious in her ro om on Feb. 8, 2007, and pronounced dead from an overdose a short time later.
The former Playboy Playmate was so weak by the time of her death, she couldn’t sit up to drink fluids. Cops found a baby bottle filled in Smith’s hotel bed.
“Pedialyte was put in the baby bottle because she was so weak, and that was the only way she could take liquids,” Santiago said. “She was too weak to sit up.”
Santiago said there were 11 bottles with 10 different prescription drugs found in Smith’s rooms.
LA County Superior Court Judge Robert Perry will decide if there’s enough evidence to bound the defendants over for trial. Testimony is expected to last two weeks.
Additional reporting by David K. Li