Martha Stewart built an empire on recipes and decorating tips

Decisions on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and making false statements to federal investigators could be in by the end of the week.

Ms Stewart, 62, could face five years in jail and a $250,000 fine if guilty.

The most serious charges of securities fraud, carrying a maximum 10-year jail term, were dismissed when the judge said the prosecution case was "weak".

Drug regulators

Lifestyle guru Ms Stewart built an empire on home-decorating advice, recipes and entertainment tips.

She faces one count of conspiracy, two counts of making false statements and one count of obstruction of agency proceedings.

It is alleged she ordered her broker to sell her stock holdings in biotech firm ImClone after she received an improper tip federal regulators would not approve the firm's anti-cancer drug, Erbitux.

Her broker, Peter Bacanovic, is also on trial facing five charges.

The earlier decision of Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum to drop the worst charge stemmed from discussions with lawyers from both sides about what instructions she would give the jury.

In a 23-page ruling, she said the government had fallen far short in trying to press the charge.