Britney's dad takes control
2008-02-03 14:12
Los Angeles - Throughout the course of Britney Spears's months-long emotional tailspin, one universal question has lingered with each spectacular turn: Why doesn't her family take drastic measures to stop this?
On Friday, they did.
Spears's father, James Spears, was put in charge of the troubled pop star's welfare during a surprise court appearance by him and mother Lynne Spears, a day after their daughter was whisked to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
Just as Spears's immediate family was taking charge of her life, Sam Lutfi, the man seen escorting her about town and sometimes speaking on her behalf, was removed from the picture with a restraining order. A message left on Lutfi's cell phone seeking comment was not immediately returned.
James Spears's eyes grew teary when he was named conservator of his daughter. He and an attorney, Andrew Wallet, were named conservators of the estate. The parents sat with attorney Blair Berk throughout the hearing, smiling and embracing after the announcement.
The events of the past two days were the first positive signs that Spears may have reached a turning point in a downward spiral of bizarre behaviour - all of it captured by paparazzi lenses - that has resulted in her losing custody of and visitation rights with her two young sons.
Spears was taken early on Thursday by paramedics with a heavy police escort to UCLA Medical Centre's psychiatric hospital. There was no account or description of the young star's actual condition during the hearing.
It was the second hospitalisation this year for the 26-year-old singer, who has exhibited odd behaviour since November 2006, when she filed for divorce from Kevin Federline, the father of their sons, 1-year-old Jayden James and 2-year-old Sean Preston.
Cannot care for herself
A court creates conservatorships when it determines that a person cannot care for themselves or handle their affairs. Commissioner Reva Goetz said Spears would be under conservatorship until Monday, at which time another hearing would be held.
"It is in the best interests of the conservatee to have conservatorship over her person," Goetz told a packed courtroom.
As conservator, her father will have the power to "restrict visitors", have around-the-clock security for Spears and have access to all medical records, Goetz said. It was unclear whether the court gave her father the power to make medical decisions on Spears's behalf; even if that was granted, the role can be limited.
- AP