Baby Spice testifies in lawsuit

Baby Spice became Witness Spice Wednesday during testimony at a lawsuit launched against the Spice Girls by an Italian scooter manufacturer.

Reuters reports that Emma Bunton, a.k.a. Baby Spice, told a London civil court she never actually believed Geri Halliwell would leave the superstar pop group prior to the Spice Girls' signing of a promotional contract with the scooter company.

The scooter company, Aprilia S.A., is suing the Spice Girls for C$3.4 million, claiming the group signed the deal to market the "Spice Sonic" scooter even after the group knew Halliwell, known as Ginger Spice, planed to ditch the group and embark on a solo career.

Aprilia claims Halliwell's departure hurt the "Spice Sonic" promotion, after the company had spent a large amount of money to promote the scooters.

Reuters said Bunton told court Halliwell indeed informed the group she planned to go solo in September 1998, prior to inking the deal with Aprilia.

"But I never believed she would go. I hoped that by September she would have re-thought it," Reuters quoted Bunton's testimony.

"Things were said flippantly all the time."

Outside court, Bunton told reporters she was more nervous testifying in court than she has ever been of singing onstage.

Halliwell is scheduled to testify Friday.

-- AllPop