By Alex Dobuzinskis
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Britney Spears avoided court on Thursday, but in her absence her attorney told jurors the pop star calls Louisiana home and should be cleared of a charge of driving without a California license.
Spears' attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, told a Los Angeles jury that the case turned on defining the singer's real home.
"She was residing in California -- I'm not trying to get tricky with the terminology -- but 'resident' has a different definition," Flanagan told jurors.
Prosecutors from the city of Los Angeles argued that Spears, 26, lived in California since May 2006. They say Spears should have had a license from the state in August 2007, when she hit another car in a Los Angeles parking lot while being trailed by photographers.
Jamie Spears, the pop star's father, testified that his daughter planned to move home to Louisiana as soon as a custody dispute over her two children is settled.
Spears' father took over his daughter's business and personal affairs in February after she was twice taken to Los Angeles-area hospitals and held for psychiatric evaluations.
Spears has not attended the trial, which is her right because she is accused of a misdemeanor and not a more serious felony charge.
The case went to trial after negotiations failed over a plea bargain that would have avoided a trial.
Spears could face a maximum six months in jail if convicted but is more likely to get a fine and probation.
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Jill Serjeant)
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