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LOS ANGELES - Celebrity socialite Nicole Richie's trial on charges of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol was postponed on Wednesday to August 16 so an expert defence witness can attend.
Lawyers for the co-star of "The Simple Life" television show won the delay at a hearing at Glendale Superior Court in suburban Los Angeles. Richie, 25, who could face a jail sentence ranging from four days to one year if convicted, was not required to be present.
Nicole Richie's attorney Shawn Chapman Holley claims drugs tests used to charge her with DUI (driving under the influence) were falsified.
Holley stated in legal documents filed yesterday that Nicole's defence team plan to call drugs expert Dr. Terence McGee as their key witness to challenge the results obtained by police.
The papers read: "Dr. Terence McGee, as a defence expert, will challenge the prosecutor's scientific evidence and the conclusions reached by the drug recognition expert."
Nicole was stopped by police after driving the wrong way on a Los Angeles freeway on December 11. She failed a field sobriety test and reportedly admitted to police she had smoked marijuana and taken Vicodin.
Chapman Holley asked Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Steven K. Lubell to delay the trial - due to start today - because McGee would not be available until August 5.
Chapman Holley wrote: "His testimony will be critical to Miss Richie's case and there is no other expert retained by the defence who can testify in this regard."
Richie reportedly travelled to Canada to watch her boyfriend Joel Madden's band Good Charlotte perform on Tuesday.
Media interest in Richie's case has spiked after celebrity magazines reported she is 3 months pregnant and plans to marry Madden. Richie's publicist has declined comment.
Richie is the daughter of singer Lionel Richie and stars in The Simple Life with hotel heiress Paris Hilton, who spent three weeks behind bars last month for violating probation in a drunken driving case.
- REUTERS, BANG! SHOWBIZ
