Friday, August 26, 2005

Sleepless in LA

Nora's trial set Oct. 14

Janet Susan R. Nepales
Inquirer News Service

LOS ANGELES—A haggard and sleepless-looking Nora Aunor showed up Tuesday morning (Wednesday in Manila) before Superior Court Judge James R. Brandlin at the Airport Courthouse in Los Angeles, where her drug possession case is being heard.

"So many problems," Aunor replied in Filipino when asked why she looked exhausted.

Dressed casually in a gray top and white pants and wearing no make-up, the singer-actress fidgeted in her seat. She remembered to turn off her cell phone, as required inside the courthouse, only after it rang. Third judge Brandlin is the third judge that Nora has had to face here. Previously, she faced Judge Paula Adele Mabrey and Judge Joseph Shino Biderman.

Pre-trial date was set Sept. 30, and trial was scheduled to commence on Oct. 14 and end Oct. 24.

Only a handful of press people were present—aside from Inquirer, only the Associated Press, Philippine News, GMA and ABS-CBN were represented. There were no Noranians in sight.

When asked how she felt about the progress of the case, Lourdes Tancinco, Nora's immigration lawyer, said it was "premature" to give an opinion.

Also present was the singer's manager, Norie Sayo.