Charges stand in Web harassment case

Lawyers in the case of a Missouri woman who allegedly engaged in online bullying that caused a teenager's suicide were told Thursday to prepare for trial.

U.S. District Judge George Wu, sitting in Los Angeles, did not rule on a defense motion to dismiss the charges against Lori Drew, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Wu said he may not decide on dismissal until Nov. 18, when her trial is scheduled to begin.

Drew, of Dardenne Prairie, Mo., was charged with conspiracy and three counts of accessing protected computers illegally after state prosecutors said they could not charge her. She allegedly set up a a MySpace account and used it, claiming to be a teenage boy, to form an online friendship with Megan Meier, 13, a former friend of her daughter.

Meier took her own life after the "boy" turned against her, sending her a message that said the world "would be a better place without you."

Drew's lawyers argue that, at worst, she violated MySpace terms of service and that does not constitute a federal crime.