Tulisa Contostavlos has appeared at Southwark Crown Court over drug charges and will now stand trial in July.
The N-Dubz star attended a preliminary hearing this morning (22 April), following her arrest in July 2013 under suspicion of “being concerned in” supplying Class A substances.
Tulisa arrives at Southwark Crown Court
The investigation followed a police sting, in which Tulisa was allegedly filmed appearing to help with a cocaine deal for a man who was later revealed to be an undercover journalist. Tulisa was arrested after the incident along with musician Mike GLC.
During an initial hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in December, Tulisa denied being concerned with supplying Class A drugs, while Mike, full name Michael Coombs, denied intent to supply.
In December, the singer's lawyer Ben Rose gave a statement, explaining that his client would plead not guilty. According to The Mirror, he said: "Tulisa has been charged with a serious criminal offence to which she will plead not guilty.
"As has been widely reported, this entire case has been manufactured by the Sun on Sunday and Mazher Mahmood, sometimes known as the fake sheikh.
"They spent a large amount of their readers' money in flying Tulisa and a number of her friends first class to Las Vegas."
A spokesman for The Sun has said: "The Sun on Sunday's investigation into Tulisa Contostavlos was entirely justified in the public interest. It was undertaken by Mazher Mahmood, our award-winning journalist.
"Throughout our investigation, our team followed the Press Complaints Commission Code and then handed over our dossier of evidence to the police.
"Following the police investigation, prosecutors have decided that there is a clear case to answer. It is right that this matter should go to court and be decided by a jury."
Tulisa’s trial will begin on 14 July, just one day after her 26th birthday, and there will be another pre-trial hearing on 25 June, reports The Mirror.
Tulisa Arrives At Southwark Crown Court
