A man from Carshalton has appeared in court accused of trying to fix a trial involving the husband of the singer Amy Winehouse.

Michael Brown, 39, of Durand Close, is said to have bribed a publican he allegedly assaulted with Blake Fielder-Civil last year.

It is claimed barman James King was offered £200,000 to withdraw his statement and fly to Spain before the trial which was due to start last week.

King, 36, of Risley Hall in Derbyshire, is now accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice with five other men, including Brown and Fielder-Civil, 25, a music video assistant.

Brown was remanded in custody on Friday and is due to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court with the others tomorrow.

Perverting the course of justice carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The episode is the latest spiral downward in the disastrous personal life of Miss Winehouse, 24, whose award-winning album Back to Black chronicled her turbulent relationship with her husband.

Earlier this month the troubled chanteuse, still sporting her trademark back-combed beehive hairdo and thick eyeliner, wept uncontrollably and mouthed "I love you" as her husband was refused bail by Thames Magistrates' Court.

The strain appeared to be showing last week as hundreds of fans in Birmingham walked out on the opening night of her 17-date tour.

Miss Winehouse was booed off stage after she slurred her way through the hour-long gig. She had been arrested in Norway last month with her husband in connection with marijuana possession.