Howard K Stern Ordered To Stand Trial In Anna Nicole Case

Anna Nicole Smith's longtime companion Howard K Stern and two doctors have been ordered to stand trial on charges of furnishing the late model with drugs.

After a three week preliminary hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert J Perry ruled there is enough evidence to require Stern, 40, and physicians Khristine Eroshevich, 61, and Sandeep Kapoor, 41, to stand trial.

They are charged with conspiring to illegally provide controlled substances to Smith. All three have pleaded not guilty.

The decision came after Judge Perry took home a 45-minute video to watch that purportedly showed Anna Nicole under the influence of drugs provided by her lawyer-boyfriend.

After it was announced that the three will stand trial, Anna Nicole Smith's mother Virgie Arthurs said she was 'thrilled' with the court's ruling.

A friend of Virgie revealed: "She is absolutely thrilled with the judge's decision. All she has ever wanted is justice."

Smith, 39, died from an accidental prescription drug overdose on February 8,

2007, after unsuccessful efforts to revive her in a Florida hotel room.