Death ruling on Murphy ...

Brittany Murphy died from pneumonia, but anemia and prescription drugs also played a role, coroner’s officials said Thursday.

The primary cause of death was community-acquired pneumonia, with contributing factors of iron deficiency anemia and “multiple drug intoxication,” according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

The death was ruled accidental.

Coroner’s spokesman Craig Harvey declined to specify what types of drugs were involved but said they were all prescription medications. Details about the drugs the “Clueless” and “8 Mile” star had in her system will be released in several weeks when a complete report is done.

Murphy died Dec. 20 at age 32 after collapsing at her Hollywood Hills home. Her mother and husband have said the actress didn’t abuse prescription medications or have an eating disorder.

Shepherd’s son accused ...

Cybill Shepherd’s son has appeared in court in Philadelphia on charges he stole money and other items from fellow airline passengers.

Cyrus Shepherd-Oppenheim is a University of Pennsylvania student from Sebastopol, Calif. Police say he stole cash, a camera and other items from carry-on luggage during a cross-country United Airlines flight last month.

A judge Thursday set an April 20 trial date on theft and related charges.

Defense lawyer William J. Brennan says similar cases often end with a pretrial diversion program. He says it appears the two victims left the flight with all their belongings.

The 22-year-old Shepherd-Oppenheim is the son of the “Moonlighting” star and her ex-husband, chiropractor Bruce Oppenheim.

Farrow speaks out ...

UNICEF goodwill ambassador Mia Farrow has criticized as “deplorable” attempts to take children out of Haiti illegally after last month’s devastating earthquake.

The U. S. actress says individuals who want to help Haiti’s children should rather support orphanages inside the country.

Farrow, who herself has adopted 11 children, says offering parents a better life for their children elsewhere is “completely unacceptable and immoral.”

Adoption practices in Haiti are in the spotlight since a group of American missionaries was caught trying to smuggle Haitian children out of the country in the wake of the Jan. 12 quake.

Farrow was taking part by telephone Thursday in a news briefing for the U. N. children’s fund’s annual appeal.