Courtney Love's probation orders relating to previously reported assault and drugs charges have been terminated a year early by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rand Rubin. The singer wept as the decision was announced, and she thanked the judge before apologising for crying in court. Love's lawyer Howard Weitzman said yesterday "Courtney stepped up to the plate, turned her life around and is on the road to releasing her new record and hopefully getting hired to act in films".
As you will remember, Love pleaded no contest in 2005 to assaulting musician Kristin King, as well as possession of prescription painkillers, and one count of being under the influence of cocaine. She was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to complete anger management and drug rehab programmes, and was banned from coming within 100 yards of the aforementioned Kristin King.
King's lawyers argued against ending the probation in court on Monday. Attorney Gloria Allred recounted the story of how Love assaulted her client at the home of Love's ex-boyfriend Jim Barber back in Apr 2004, telling the court: "Ms Love came in and picked up a large glass whiskey bottle from the coffee table and poured all the contents of the bottle onto Ms King's body as she lay on the couch. The bottle then hit Ms King on the left cheekbone and temple. Ms Love also picked up a large lit candle from the coffee table and threw it at Ms King".
She added that Love's substance abuse problems could not "excuse or justify an unwarranted vicious attack on another human being. We are glad Ms. Love has received the help she needs, but we also felt the protective order should continue."