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Trial of Michael Jackson's doctor could be delayedBy Alan Duke, CNNMay 2, 2011 -- Updated 1513 GMT (2313 HKT)STORY HIGHLIGHTS * NEW: Dr. Conrad Murray's lawyers ask for two more weeks to prepare for trial * The judge will hear arguments for a delay Monday * A trial delay would be expensive for cash-strapped L.A. courts * Murray's trial testimony is set to start next weekLos Angeles (CNN) -- A judge will decide Monday whether the voluntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor, set to start next week, will be delayed.Lawyers for Dr. Conrad Murray told the judge Friday that they need more time to answer what they say are new theories about Jackson's death raised by the prosecution.Unless Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor accepts the defense motion for a delay, jury selection will conclude this week and testimony will start next Monday.The defense motion filed Sunday asked for a two-week break between the time jurors are chosen, which is expected to conclude by Friday, and opening statements and testimony."I'm not saying what I'm prepared to do, because I need to hear and see more information," Pastor said during a Friday afternoon hearing.A delay, however long, would be expensive for the cash-strapped court system. Pastor said there had been a "massive investment of time and money" put toward the trial.Dr. Conrad Murray: 'I'm an innocent man'There are 171 potential jurors already "hardship qualified" for a two-month trial, but a delay might require them to go through the process again.The possibility of a delay was raised earlier Friday when Pastor ruled prosecutors could call new expert witnesses, including one who would testify that there was no way Jackson could have self-ingested the drug that the coroner said killed him.Defense lawyer Ed Chernoff said he consulted with Dr. Murray after that hearing and they agreed they needed more time to prepare their expert testimony to counter the new prosecution experts."This is precisely the matter I fully expected that was going to happen when the defense said it wanted to go in 60 days," Pastor said.Murray invoked his right to a speedy trial after January's preliminary hearing in which the prosecution's expert witness admitted he made a math mistake that supported the defense theory that Jackson may have given himself the fatal dose of propofol.Propofol is a surgical anesthetic that the Los Angeles coroner ruled killed Jackson, in combination with several sedatives found in his blood."I actually made a mistake on that," Dr. Richard Ruffalo testified during cross-examination, referring to his calculation of the levels of drugs in Jackson's stomach fluid.Murray's lawyers suggest a frustrated and sleepless Jackson may have poured the surgical anesthetic propofol mixed with lidocaine into his juice bottle while the doctor was out of his bedroom.A new expert approved by Pastor on Friday will testify that he "concludes it was impossible for Michael Jackson to orally ingest" the fatal drug, prosecutor David Walgren said."Super expert Dr. Ruffalo prepared a 60-page report," Defense lawyer Michael Flanagan said in court Friday. "We got ready on that, but now the trial in this case will look nothing like the preliminary. I bet you they're not going to call Ruffalo."The prosecution said the defense is always welcome to call the former prosecution expert."They are not calling their original 11 experts," Flanagan said. "They've got three brand new ones, which requires us to prepare all over again for these new theories and justifications of these theories."The new experts will present "more detailed analysis, but not a new theory," Walgren said.In Session's Beth Karas contributed to this report.
Murray Trial May Be DelayedDefense lawyers seek time to line-up new witnessesBy Yvonne BeltzerFriday, Apr 29, 2011 | Updated 4:27 PM PDTLawyers for Dr. Conrad Murray want to delay his manslaughter trial that was scheduled to begin next week with jury selection.Although Murray had originally refused to waive his right to a speedy trial, his attorneys told the judge Friday that they need more time to line up new defense experts to refute new prosecution witnesses.L.A. Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor has ordered a hearing on Monday morning to obtain more information before deciding whether to grant the continuance.Pastor had hoped to begin jury selection next week and have opening statements by the following week.He said in court that a "massive investment of time and money" had been put toward the trial.He added that a delay might be costly.Defense lawyer Ed Chernoff said he consulted with Murray after the hearing and the doctor agreed that his attorneys needed more time to prepare their case in light of prosecution changes.One new prosecution witness is expected to testify that it would have been impossible for Michael Jackson to have taken the anesthetic propofol orally the morning he died.This is at odds with defense theory, but the judge ruled Friday that the new prosecution witness would be allowed to testify.
I just want to break down and cry. I' believe I've become manic depressive since 6/25/2009 and now another long wait crash/ crash/
The Associated PressPosted: May 2, 2011 1:28 PM ETLast Updated: May 2, 2011 1:28 PM ETBack to accessibility linksSupporting Story ContentStory Sharing Tools Share with Add This Print this story E-mail this storyEnd of Supporting Story ContentBack to accessibility linksBeginning of Story ContentDr. Conrad Murray has had his trial delayed until September. Dr. Conrad Murray has had his trial delayed until September. (Associated Press)The trial of the doctor charged in Michael Jackson's death has been delayed until September.Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor on Monday put off opening statements that had been set for next week and says he will release potential jurors who have started the screening process.Pastor now says jury selection will begin on Sept. 8 and opening statements will begin later that month.Attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray asked to delay the trial to prepare for new prosecution experts expected to be called as witnesses.Murray had been seeking a speedy trial but has waived that right to allow his attorneys time to prepare. The defence team claimed the prosecution introduced new experts to its list of witnesses on the eve of the trial.Pastor says he allowed the delay because of the need for fundamental fairness in the trial.Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the singer's June 2009 death.The Houston-based cardiologist is accused of giving Jackson a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol in the bedroom of the his rented mansion.