A court in Los Angeles suspended Britney Spears's father from custody through which he has controlled her life for 13 years, marking a major victory for the singer, who has long objected.
At a court hearing Wednesday, Judge Brenda Penny ordered Jamie Spears to be suspended as an effective caregiver immediately. "The current situation is unbearable," Penny said after hearing conflicting arguments from both sides. "The situation reflects a toxic environment that requires the suspension of James Spears."
She scheduled a hearing on November 12 to discuss the full termination of custody, which all parties appear to support.
Mathew Rosengart, Britney Spears' lawyer, demanded that her father be removed immediately before further action was taken, saying it was necessary for the singer's well-being. Britney was not present at Wednesday's hearing.
The decision comes three months after the pop star publicly prayed for her father to be removed, claiming he had been abusive. She claimed that her father and others controlled the intimate details of her personal life and had forced her to work against her will.
A recent New York Times documentary also claimed that Jamie Spears had hired a security firm to secretly spy on the girl's phone, recording conversations in the bedroom.
At Wednesday's hearing, Britney's lawyer said Jamie's removal was the first step towards ending a "nightmare" adding that she "has been abused by this man not only in the last decade, but since childhood her".
Jodi Montgomery, a licensed caregiver, now oversees Spears healthcare and she has also signaled support for ending custody. A certified public accountant will take over the temporary management of the property.
Britney fans traveled from all over the country to support Spears in LA on Wednesday, where many protesters blocked the way out of court for their rally.
Sources: Guardian, CNN
