Lindsay Lohan splattered with gold dust outside courthouse

Lindsay Lohan was dowsed in gold dust as she arrived late to court on Monday morning (18Mar13).

The embattled star risked the wrath of a judge by arriving 48 minutes late for the start of her trial in Los Angeles after walking off a commercial flight bound for Los Angeles from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday night (17Mar13).

Aides later revealed Lohan disembarked after smelling fuel and fearing she was in peril.

She finally made the trip onboard a private jet, but it failed to get her to LAX airport in time to make the court appointment.

As she walked from her car to the entrance of the courthouse, a mystery man threw what appeared to be gold powder at the actress, dotting her all-white outfit and further delaying proceedings.

The Mean Girls star faces allegations she lied to police officers over a car crash last summer (12).

She is also facing two misdemeanour charges of reckless driving and obstructing officers from performing their duties - after reportedly failing to reach a plea agreement with prosecutors.

If found guilty on all counts, she faces 240 days behind bars. The trial is just about to start.