LOS ANGELES , California ( CNN ) -- Anna Nicole Smith 's bizarre introduction of rapper Kanye West at the 2004 American Music Awards took center stage on the first day of a preliminary hearing for three people facing charges stemming from her death . Anna Nicole Smith 's death on February 8 , 2007 , was ruled to be from `` acute combined drug intoxication . '' Prosecutors said they wanted Judge Robert Perry to see how the former Playboy model and reality TV star was affected by what they alleged was an illegal conspiracy to prescribe , administer and dispense controlled substances to an addict . Howard K. Stern , Smith 's lawyer and companion , and co-defendants Dr. Khristine Eroshevich and Dr. Sandeep Kapoor each entered not guilty pleas in Los Angeles County Superior Court in September . The preliminary hearing , which lawyers said could last three weeks , is an opportunity for the defense to `` lock in '' the testimony of prosecution witnesses , one defense lawyer said . It is not expected to result in any charges being dropped , he said . The lawyer for Stern , who faces 11 felony counts , said to prove a conspiracy , the prosecutor would have to show Stern knew it was illegal to use fake names to obtain narcotics for Smith , which he said was to protect her privacy . `` He has no reason to believe that there was anything improper in what was going on , '' defense lawyer Steve Sadow said . `` He honestly believed that if the doctor said he could do it this way and , in fact , did it , then it was legitimate and lawful . '' Smith 's death in a Hollywood , Florida , hotel on February 8 , 2007 , was ruled to be from `` acute combined drug intoxication , '' the Broward County , Florida , medical examiner said . Smith 's introduction of Kanye West -- projected on a courtroom screen -- was a brief respite from a mostly tedious hearing spent shuffling through prescription records . `` Like my body ? '' a slim and busty Smith asked as she showed off her tight-fitting gown . Smith slurred much of her speech as she tried to read from a teleprompter . `` Make some noise for my boy , Kanye West , '' Smith finally yelled . Sadow said the video should be viewed in the context of the medical problems Smith was suffering at the time . `` We all have bad days , and she suffered from seizures and she had medical problems , '' Sadow said . `` So , if she 's on medication for that , [ it ] would explain her activity . '' Stern sat with his head in his hands at times while the government 's lead investigator described what happened the day Smith died at the Hard Rock Hotel . Danny Santiago , special agent for the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement , said investigators found 12 types of prescription drugs , including dangerous opiates , in the hotel room . Seven of them were prescribed using Stern 's name , although spelled `` Stearn , '' he said . Two of the drugs apparently were for treatment of `` flu-like symptoms '' Smith was suffering when she arrived at the hotel three days before her death , he said . A hotel employee who saw Smith and Stern arrive told investigators she `` was n't her normal vivacious self , '' Santiago said . Another hotel worker who had closely assisted Smith during several earlier stays said she was not allowed contact with Smith , which she said was `` very unusual , '' Santiago testified . The workers said they were told Smith was suffering from `` flu-like symptoms . '' The autopsy revealed Smith had a bacterial infection , Santiago said . When Stern left the hotel on the morning of February 8 to shop for a new boat , he asked Tasma Brighthaupt , a registered nurse who is married to Smith 's bodyguard , to watch over Smith , who he said was sleeping , the investigator said . Brighthaupt sat next to the bed , surfing the Internet with a laptop and talking on her cell phone , believing Smith was sleeping , he said . Finally , Brigette Neben , described as a friend of Smith 's , noticed her lips were turning blue and her skin was pale , he said . When the nurse was unable to find a pulse , she called her husband , Maurice Brighthaupt . He then called the hotel desk , where an employee called for paramedics . CPR efforts by the bodyguard and paramedics failed to revive Smith , who was then taken to Hollywood Memorial Hospital , where she was pronounced dead , the investigator said . A series of affidavits used by state investigators to obtain search warrants in their 2½-year investigation was unsealed last month , revealing many details , including an account of one witness who told investigators she saw Stern inject Smith with drugs . Other affidavits included a medical expert 's conclusion that Smith , whose real name was Vickie Lynn Marshall , was given drugs in `` excessive amounts '' and a pharmacist who said he had refused to fill a prescription for a long list of strong narcotics .
Video played at preliminary hearing on reality star Smith 's behalf . 3 charged with conspiracy to prescribe , administer and dispense drugs . Howard Stern , Mark Cuban , Sandeep Singh have pleaded not guilty .