Judge mocks George Michael’s schedule

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The judge overseeing the trial of George Michael yesterday said the singer might have to take a day off work to attend court.

In January, Mr Michael’s lawyer told the court in north west London that he pleads not guilty to a charge of being unfit to drive.

Trying to set a trial date at Brent Magistrates Court, Judge Katherine Marshall was not impressed when lawyers said Mr Michael was too busy to be tied down.

Earlier this week it was announced that the former Wham! frontman will be the first performer to play at the new Wembley Stadium as part of his summer European tour.

When told that Mr Michael had just set a series of dates in his diary, Judge Marshall responded: “He’s playing Wembley on June 9, isn’t he? So he is in the area,” reports The Mirror.

The charge arises from an incident last October.

Members of the public called the police in the early hours of October 1st to deal with a Mercedes Benz S-Class car which was obstructing traffic.

George Michael was found at the wheel. He was allegedly semi-conscious. Police officers took him to hospital and then arrested for suspected possession of drugs.

He was later cautioned for possessing cannabis. The police decided to press charges of being unfit to drive last month.

2006 was a bad year for the former Wham! front man, who came out of the closet in 1998 after being arrested in Los Angeles for cottaging.

In February Michael was arrested for possession of cannabis, in May he was discovered slumped over the wheel of his Range Rover and in July the tabloids went into a frenzy when he was discovered cruising for sex on Hampstead Heath.