Courtney Love could face up to a year in jail if convicted

Love told Los Angeles Superior Court that she dismissed lawyer William Genego because "he wanted me to plead guilty to something I didn't do".

The lawyer denied this on Tuesday but declined to say why he left the case.

Love denies a charge of being under the influence of a drug in October 2003, when police said she tried to break her boyfriend's windows.

The 39-year-old former Love singer, who recently released her first solo album, briefly attended court on Monday.

New lawyer Michael Rosenstein said he needed to familiarise himself with the case before the trial began on 8 March.

The trial had been due to start on Monday, but Judge Patricia Schnegg reluctantly agreed to delay it for two weeks.

"This case is old, way old," she said. If Ms Love pleads not guilty and is convicted, she could face between three months and one year in jail.

But if she pleads guilty or no contest, she could avoid prison and instead enter a drug diversion programme.

Mr Rosenstein said he was "hopeful" of reaching some kind of resolution to the case before it went to trial.