Friday, 28 December 2007

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Amy Winehouse summoned to court in Norway

Singer must make personal appearance

She may not want to go to rehab, but Amy Winehouse will need to appear in a Norway court if she wants a marijuana charge dropped.

According to Bergen police, Winehouse, 24, must appear in person to appeal a fine for marijuana possession, stemming from an October arrest.

"I can confirm that she must appear in court," Bergen police spokeswoman Liv Karlsen told the Associated Press Thursday. "If one appeals a conviction, it's the rule that one has to appear in person, so this is not surprising."

Winehouse and husband Blake Fielder-Civil were arrested and detained Oct. 18 in Norway for illegal drug possession, before paying a fine and being released the next day.

The singer later said she had been deceived about signing papers agreeing to pay the fine, which in Norway is equivalent to pleading guilty. Police say that Winehouse knew what she was signing, and was helped by English translators.

Winehouse's lawyer says a conviction could hurt the singer's ability to get work in the United States.

By Nicholas White