Britney Spears

Britney judge declares mistrial

Spears had faced up to six months

in jail and a fine if convicted

The judge in Britney Spears' trial for driving
without a valid Californian licence has

declared a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a verdict.

The 26-year-old pop star was not present to hear the decision, after eight-hours of deliberations. The charge related to an incident in Los Angeles last August, when the pop star was photographed hitting a parked car and leaving the scene. US prosecutors did not indicate whether Spears would face a retrial. After a second day of deliberation, the foreman of the jury said they had failed to reach a unanimous conclusion after three votes. On Monday the jurors had said that votes were stuck at 10-2, but did not reveal which way they were leaning. Superior Court Judge James A Steele had questioned whether more could be done to encourage discussion or reach a verdict. "I think with each return to the assembly room, everyone becomes more entrenched in their position," the foreman replied.

'Straightforward case'

There was no mention during the trial of the accident that led to the charges, as agreed by the defence and prosecution.The omission led to the jury's other question: "Why was she stopped in the first place?"

During the trial, the prosecution had said it was "a straightforward case" - the singer's address was listed as Beverley Hills so she should have a Californian driving licence. Ms Spears' lawyer, J Michael Flanagan, told the jury during the defence that there was no dispute she had been driving but said that, at the time, she had a valid Louisiana driving licence. He argued that Ms Spears did not need a Californian driving licence because she was only a temporary resident of Los Angeles. Mr Flanagan rejected a plea deal which would have resulted in a $150 (£85) fine saying Ms Spears did not want a criminal record. She had faced up to six months in jail and a fine if convicted, but this was considered unlikely as she had no previous convictions.

Spear's Father appears in court

Ms Spears' lawyer claims she is a temporary California resident.

Singer Britney Spears' father Jamie has represented the star in a court case accusing her of driving without a valid Californian licence.The charge relates to an incident in Los Angeles in August 2007 when Ms Spears was photographed hitting a parked car and leaving the scene.Mr Spears said she had planned to move to her home state of Louisiana so did not need a Californian driving licence.The 26-year-old is exercising her right to stay away from court.The pop star had initially faced hit-and-run charges but they were dropped last October when she compensated the driver of the damaged car.The prosecution said it was "a straightforward case" - her address was listed as Beverley Hills so she should have a Californian driving licence.

Rejected

Her lawyer, J Michael Flanagan, told the jury therewas no dispute she had been driving but said that, at the time, she had a valid Louisiana driving licence.He argued that Ms Spears did not need a Californian driving licence because she was only a temporary resident of Los Angeles.He said: "She was residing in California - I'm not trying to get tricky with terminology but 'resident' has a different definition."Her father told the court that she intended to move back to Louisiana but that her ongoing custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline kept her in California.Unde

r cross-examination, Mr Spears admitted that his daughter had strong ties with California and acknowledged that she had got married and divorced in the state and had two children there.Closing arguments from both sides were expected on Friday.Mr Flanagan rejected a plea deal which would have resulted in a $150 (£85) fine saying Ms Spears did not want a criminal record.She faces jail if convicted, but this is unlikely as she has no criminal record.This week, the singer hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time since her debut single Baby One More Time, in 1999.

Britney Spears is planning another comeback as she prepares to release her next album on 2 December in the US - the star's 27th birthday.

Circus will be Spears's sixth studio album, and the first single Womanizer will be released on 22 September, her label Jive/Zomba said in a statement.

Her last album, Blackout, released in 2007, came during a year of rehab stays and a child custody battle.

Although it was certified platinum, it was one of her least successful.

Fit and healthy

A year after the 26-year-old's shambolic appearance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, she returned to the same ceremony last week and provoked a more positive reaction.

The singer won three awards for her song Piece of Me, collecting them on stage looking fit and healthy.

She also drew praise for her guest appearance on US TV comedy How I Met Your Mother.

Spears shot to fame in 1998 with her smash-hit debut album Baby One More Time.

The following year she continued with chart success with Oops! ... I Did It Again.

The singer remains one of the top-selling women artists of the past decade.