Britney Spears rails against her father in emotional new court hearing

Britney Spears told a court she’s terrified of her father today - while his lawyer blamed her shocking claims on her “mental illness”.

Britney Spears’ conservatorship case was back in court today – and the singer herself made a surprise appearance, sobbing as she claimed she was afraid of her own family.

Spears’ appearance at the latest court hearing was unexpected, with previous reports stating she wasn’t expected to attend or speak at this latest update in her ongoing conservatorship case.

But reports are now emerging that Spears made an emotional appearance via phone.

“I would like to charge my father with conservatorship abuse,” a tearful Spears told the court, as per CNN.

“I want to press charges against my father today,” Spears said. “I want an investigation into my dad... I’m angry and I will go there.”

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Britney has demanded an investigation into her father Jamie.

Britney also reportedly told the court that she thought those charged with carrying out the conservatorship “were trying to kill me” and called the arrangement “f**king cruelty.”

“If this is not abuse, I don‘t know what is,” CNN reports her as saying.

Others with access to the hearing have reported more disturbing quotes from Spears today. She reportedly told the court she was promised the conservatorship arrangement she’s lived under for 13 years would end after 2009’s Circus world tour: “During the Circus Tour, I was told if I just be good and follow the rules they will end it,” she said.

Elsewhere, she is reported to refuted claims she lives with mental illness, telling the court: “The thing that made me crazy was that my family never cared for me.”

She claimed that her family vacationed in her beach house while she was detained against her will at a mental facility, with dad Jamie telling her over the phone: “There must be something wrong with you.”

Britney fans aren’t holding back. Picture: Emma McIntyre/Getty

Spears told the court that her most pressing priority was having her father removed from the conservatorship.

“My dad needs to be removed. He needs to be removed today.

“I’m fine with Jodi (co-conservator, Jodi Montgomery) helping me to get more confidence and get out to the real world but I need my dad gone.”

Spears also reportedly thanked her fans for their support in the ongoing #FreeBritney movement, which spread awareness about the highly unusual conservatorship arrangement she’s lived under since 2008.

But Britney’s father Jamie hit back at her claims, his lawyer Vivian Thoreen telling the court: “There is no basis for Mr. Spears to be stepping down right now so no, my client will not be resigning.

“Ms. Spears has certain beliefs her dad is responsible for all of the bad things happening to her.

“She has been misinformed or again, does not have correct recollection which is not a secret for someone with mental illness.

“My client is not going to resign as conservator of her estate.”

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Spears has now been granted the ability to retain a lawyer of her choosing. Picture: VALERIE MACON / AFP

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Amid these disturbing new allegations, a win for Spears: The court ruled that she would finally be allowed to hire her own lawyer for the case. She has chosen former federal prosecutor Mathew Rosengart, who attended the hearing. Rosengart is expected to push aggressively on Spears’ behalf for the conservatorship to be terminated.

Britney celebrated the win in an upbeat Instagram post today, telling fans she now had “real representation” - and using the hashtag of the ‘#FreeBritney’ movement herself for the first time:

And the case is now moving faster than ever, with lawyers on both sides meeting next Monday ahead of a September 29 hearing.

Spears’ previous lawyer, Samuel Ingham III, resigned from the conservatorship last week after Britney criticised him during her explosive 24-minute testimony at last month’s court hearing, claiming that he gave her little information about her legal options and had advised her to stay quiet about the alleged mistreatment she had suffered.

Fans gather outside Britney’s court hearing today. Picture: AFP

Britney’s June 23 court hearing left fans stunned, as she finally spoke in her own words about the arrangement that’s seen her father and a team of conservators control her life, career and finances since shortly after her 2007 public breakdown.

In the blistering testimony, Spears alleged she was kept in a drugged state, has no control over reproductive matters and has been barred from letting the public know the “harmful” truth of her situation.

“I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive,” she said. “It’s my wish and my dream for this to end.”