So, as the Conrad Murray trial prepares to kick off properly today, there was time for one last preliminary hearing yesterday in which the judge overseeing the case denied the defence’s request to screen Michael Jackson’s big ‘This Is It’ press conference during the trial.
As previously reported, Murray’s lawyers wanted to show footage of the press conference, which took place at The O2 in London, because they believe it shows that the late king of pop was frail in the months leading up to his death, and possibly under the influence of the drugs they claim he was addicted to while speaking to fans.
Legal rep Nareg Gourjian told Judge Michael Pastor yesterday that the press conference was delayed by 90 minutes because Jackson was passed out on a sofa backstage, and that when he did appear he was clearly “hungover” and “under the influence” of some sort of drug.
Team Murray want to show that, prior to his untimely demise, Jackson was ill, addicted to prescription drugs and anxious about the 50 night residency he had signed up to in order to address his mounting debts, ie he was of mindset where he might, as Murray will claim, have self-administered the shot of propofol that killed him.
But Pastor denied the request to show the press conference footage, arguing the video was irrelevant because it occurred months before Jackson died. The trial proper is due to kick off later today.
Sections: In The Pop Courts | Tags: Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson
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