(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Britney Spears' father feared she would die during her 2007 meltdown.

The 30-year-old singer's former manager Sam Lutfi is suing the star and her parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, for defamation and breach of contract.

Speaking to jurors on Friday, Jamie Spears' attorney Leon Gladstone described how the pop star's life was spiraling out of control, Reuters reports.

"Jamie was living in constant fear that he was going to look at the TV one day and see Britney was dead," he told the court.

Leon said Jamie was trying for months to get Britney into rehab before her public meltdown, which saw the pop princess placed on two psychiatric holds, lose custody of her two children and shave her head.

Leon described how Jamie saw Britney in hospital in 2007, screaming while strapped to a gurney.

"He is scared to death, and he's thinking to himself, My daughter has lost everything. Here she is, in a psychiatric ward, out of her head,'" he said.

The civil trial commenced on Thursday, with Sam's counsel claiming Britney's alleged abuse of amphetamines destroyed their relationship.

Sam is seeking 15 percent of Britney's income over several months between 2007 and 2008.

The trial continues next week. (C) Cover Media