The 31-year-old Babyshambles frontman was arrested after police investigated the suspected overdose death of heiress Robin Whitehead, who spent the last 10 days of her life making a documentary about Doherty. The 27-year-old's film, "The Road To Albion," focused on Doherty's former band, The Libertines.

Doherty said he was "shocked and saddened" following her death in January last year, according to the Press Association. Wearing a black coat, waistcoat and trousers and a white shirt, Doherty faced a crowd of photographers as he arrived at Thames Magistrates' Court in east London, where he appeared in the dock with two friends for a brief committal hearing.