Winehouse Hearing Postponed

02/28/2008


A hearing stemming from Winehouse's arrest for drug possession in Norway back in October has been postponed at her lawyer's request, Norwegian news agency NTB reports.

At the time of their run-in with the law, Winehouse and her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, were held overnight in Bergen, Norway, on charges of possessing about a quarter-ounce of marijuana. They were released the following morning after each paying fines of $715.

Winehouse later appealed the fine, claiming she was unaware that handing over the cash was tantamount to pleading guilty to the pot charge and alleging that Norwegian police mishandled the case by failing to provide an English translator.

A drug charge on her record could create problems for the singer when it comes to obtaining the proper visas to perform in the United States and other parts of the world.

However, Bergen police attorney Rudolf Christoffersen maintained at the time that the singer was only questioned by an English-speaking officer who explained in detail the charges and consequences of paying the fine.

With Friday's hearing fast approaching, Winehouse's attorney Ole Kvelstad claimed the singer has not received a letter detailing the date, hence the impetus for the proposed postponement.

However, Christoffersen claimed Winehouse knew the date of the hearing, even if the letter has yet to arrive.

The Norwegian district court ultimately agreed to postpone the hearing because Fielder-Civil is due to appear in a British courtroom the same day on a separate matter.

Winehouse, who recently collected five Grammy awards, including Best New Artist, is reportedly on the up-and-up while receiving outpatient treatment for drug addiction.

Earlier this month, her mother, Janis Winehouse, told British morning show GMTV her daughter was "on the road to recovery."