CNN Releases Anna Nicole Smith "Clown Video"

There was a preliminary hearing last week concerning whether or not lawyer Howard K. Stern and two doctors kept Anna Nicole Smith on drugs causing her to be completely incapacitated during the last few years of her life. CNN recently released what is referred to as the “clown video” that was presented as possible evidence against Stern and the doctors in court. This is a home video of a pregnant Anna Nicole allowing a nine-year-old girl named Riley to paint her face like a clown. As the girl was painting her face, Anna Nicole was in and out of consciousness. The girl placed a baby doll on the ground near the pool and Anna Nicole picked it up thinking it was her unborn child. She scuffed into the house with the doll and entered the dark nursery where she proceeded to change the doll’s clothes and rock the doll in her arms.

Stern filmed the 45-minute video and it was taken during Riley’s birthday party. The child was evidently the daughter of one of their friends. Riley showed concern for Anna Nicole, though she wasn’t sure whether or not she was acting or really having difficulty. Riley saw Stern make Anna Nicole some type of cocktail before he started filming. At one point the child pleaded for Stern to put the camera down and help Anna Nicole. Stern stated on tape that the footage he was shooting would be worth money. It was argued that the video should not be seen as evidence because Stern claims that Anna Nicole was acting and the part that explains that was edited out of the film. The judge hearing the case said that the video would not affect his decision even if it were to be submitted as evidence.

Stern’s lawyer claims that Stern did not know that Anna Nicole was a drug addict. Supposedly, he also didn’t know that it is illegal to pick up double doses of prescriptions for someone else under fake names. Many doctors who care for celebrities prescribe medicine under another name to protect the celebrity’s privacy. Stern has been accused of 11 felony charges and the doctors are each charged with six. They are out on bond at this time and are scheduled to return to court on December 11.