According to sources Jury selection in the trial of a cardiologist facing criminal charges in the death of Michael Jackson gets under way later this month, but opening statements have been postponed until May.
A superior court judge announced Wednesday that opening statements will begin may 9th after meeting in closed session with Dr. Conrad Murray, his attorneys and prosecutors. Prosecutors contend Murray gave the singing sensation a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol, which is normally administered in hospital settings. Murray has pleaded not guilty and his attorneys maintain he did not give Jackson anything that should have killed the singer.
Murray consented to the postponement after his attorneys and prosecutors said they could be ready for his involuntary manslaughter trial by then, a transcript of the closed session meeting shows. Murray told the jude it was only acceptable to him if this is not strung along over a long period of time. He doesn’t want to lose his constitutional right to a speedy trial.
The Houston based physician, who has been seeking a speedy trial because of financial difficulties, told superior court judge he understood the delay was necessary to allow both sides to better prepare for trial. The case is expected to feature testimony from several experts, as well as from people who were in Jackson’s rented mansion on the day he died. Both prosecutors and defense attorneys have said they are waiting for reports from experts.
One of Conrad Murray’s defense attorneys claims one defense is that the singer actually drank the propofol which is usually given through an IV drip.
