George Michael pleads guilty to drug offenses

8/24/2010
BLADE NEWS SERVICES

LONDON - Pop star George Michael pleaded guilty Tuesday to drug offenses and a judge suspended his license and warned him he could face jail after an incident in which his car crashed into a photo shop and he was found slumped at the wheel.

In a 15-minute appearance at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court, Michael admitted driving under the influence of drugs and possession of cannabis following the July 4 crash, where police say they found him "spaced out" and with dilated pupils.

Judge Robin McPhee banned the hitmaker behind "Faith" and "Father Figure" from driving for six months, and sternly warned he could face a prison sentence.

Three years ago, Michael was found slumped over the wheel of his car, which was blocking an intersection.

Michael, 47, whose real name is Georgios Panayiotou, spoke only to enter his pleas and confirm his identity. The former Wham! lead singer needed help from police to get through a swarm of photographers and cameramen as he arrived at the court.

Police said they found the star in his car after it crashed into a Snappy Snaps photo shop in north London, near his home, in the wee hours of July 4.

NEW YORK - Fantasia said she was so upset about allegations that she broke up a marriage she was ready to die.

"I felt like if that would have happened, I would have been fine with that - I would have been OK with that," she said, nearly two weeks after she attempted suicide.

The former American Idol champ took a mixture of aspirin and sleeping pills after she was named in divorce papers as the cause of a couple's breakup. The 26-year-old said she was so devastated and upset about lies being spread about her that she couldn't function anymore.

"I had never experienced that - I was very numb," she said.

As for the accusations that she knowingly dated Antwaun Cook even though he was married with kids, she said he was already separated when they started dating: "I don't think I would stand for going in and breaking up somebody's home."

LOS ANGELES - Martin Short's wife, Nancy Dolman, has died. She was 58.

Short's manager, Marc Gurvitz, said Monday that Short's wife of 30 years had died but provided no cause of death or any additional details. Short, best known for his comedic roles on Saturday Night Live, married Dolman in 1980.

They have three children: Katherine, 27, Oliver, 24, and Henry, 20.