Dr. Conrad Murray’s Trial in Death of Michael Jackson Will Be Televised

(HMG Celebrity News) – I am a little surprised by this but Los Angeles trials always seem to turn into media circuses anyway.

Los Angeles Superior Court judge Michael Pastor will allow television cameras to film the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor next month as long as they do not interfere with proceedings.  According to a CNN report, Judge Pastor said he wanted the “absolute least intrusive placement” of a TV camera in the courtroom and he sought detailed proposals from local news crews. He has however said that cameras will not be able to broadcast jury selection.

Judge Pastor also moved forward the date of Dr. Conrad Murray’s trial by four days to March 24, when jury selection will begin. The trial is expected to last about six weeks, lawyers for both sides say. In January, Dr. Murray’s medical license was suspended and he was ordered to stand trial for the charge of involuntarily manslaughter, for which he pleaded not guilty, and is free on bail. He faces up to fours in prison if convicted. Involuntary manslaughter is defined as unintentional killing without malice, and is a lesser charge than murder. Coroners ruled Michael Jackson’s death was caused by an overdose of propofol and a cocktail of sedatives.

Murray, who was with Jackson at his home on the morning he died, June 25, 2009, has admitted giving the 50-year-old singer the powerful anesthetic propofol as a sleep aid while he was rehearsing for a series of planned comeback concerts in London. As has been already reported it is expected that Dr. Murray’s lawyers will argue Jackson himself administered the fatal dose of Propofol to himself when Murray was out of the room.  However TMZ reports, Dr. Murray’s legal team will also argue that at the time of his death, Jackson’s body was failing him … partly because he was “driven over the edge” by AEG to rehearse for his upcoming tour. Murray’s lawyers will reportedly call witnesses to testify that Jackson was not showing up for rehearsals — and when he did show, he was exhibiting “clear signs” of failing health.

The upshot of the defense according to TMZ, is that even if jurors believe Dr. Murray administered the fatal dose of Propofol, Jackson was already in failing health.