Judge dissolves Britney Spears guardianship

Britney Spears' fans have been campaigning on her behalf

A Los Angeles judge Friday terminated the controversial guardianship that has controlled pop star Britney Spears' life for the past 13 years, handing back her freedom along with control of a multi-million-dollar estate.

The ruling, greeted with raucous cheers and showers of pink confetti by Spears' fans outside the downtown courthouse, ends a conservatorship long overseen by her father, and which the "Toxic" singer has described as abusive.

"I can't freaking believe it!" she added.

Both sides reiterated their support for swiftly ending the guardianship at the start of Friday's brief hearing.

Friday's hearing capped a long campaign by Spears and her legion of global fans to end a conservatorship that began after her highly public 2007 breakdown, when the star attacked a paparazzo's car at a gas station.

"The court finds and determines that the conservatorship of the person and estate of Britney Jean Spears is no longer required," she ruled.

Fans outside the courthouse who had been campaigning for the conservatorship to end for years could hardly contain their joy and relief.

"We all feel like she's our friend, we wanted to talk to her but couldn't talk to her!"

She cited in one petition allegations of his "reported alcoholism" and "trauma he caused his daughter since her childhood."

Spears, who has two children with her former husband, the rapper Kevin Federline, has previously alleged in court that she was prevented by her father from having a contraceptive IUD removed, despite wanting more children. Jamie Spears denied the allegation.

- 'Magical' -

Spears' estate is estimated to be worth $60 million, according to US media.

Spears did not address the court Friday via telephone as she did earlier this summer, although her mother and father both dialed in.

"I'm so happy, I'm ecstatic. It's magical, exciting... she's been in this horrible circumstance for so many years," said Spears fan Neal Wolf, 32.

Spears' lawyer Mathew Rosengart had his name chanted as he addressed the crowd of supporters, among whom he has attained celebrity status.

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