Jackson doc's defense wants jury sequestered

[fordtocarr]

Jackson doc's defense wants jury sequestered
APBy LINDA DEUTSCH - AP Special Correspondent | AP – 1 min 4 secs ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a sign of legal fallout from the Casey Anthony murder trial, a lawyer for Michael Jackson's doctor said Wednesday his jury should be sequestered to avoid contamination by TV pundits — specifically Nancy Grace.

Attorney J. Michael Flanagan said the televised, involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray could be prejudiced by "final arguments" being delivered daily on TV by Grace and other commentators.

"How many final arguments will we have to hear in this case?" Flanagan asked.

At a pretrial hearing, the lawyer referred to "the recent case in Florida" and told the judge Murray's trial was expected to get even wider coverage. He said telling jurors not to watch TV would be insufficient.

When Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor asked if Flanagan would want jurors sequestered around the clock during the trial, the lawyer responded, "Every time Nancy Grace is on TV."

"We would like a decision made on the evidence that appears in this courtroom rather than commentary on the Nancy Grace show," he said.

Allison Rudnick, a spokeswoman for the "Nancy Grace Show," did have any immediate comment.

Pastor said the courts, with a severe budget crisis, can't afford to put up jurors at a hotel, and he thinks it's unnecessary. He also said it would be burdensome to jurors.

Pastor did say he would sequester the panel during the day, requiring them to eat meals together in the jury room rather than wander around the civic center.

The judge also said he would be instructing jurors not to pay attention to publicity about the trial.

Flanagan explained the difference between the two trials outside court.

"Casey Anthony was not a public figure before her case," he said, noting that Jackson's superstar status means TV stations have enormous amounts of footage of him to use during the trial — things that will not be admitted in evidence.

Murray has pleaded not guilty to causing Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, with an overdose of propofol and other sedatives.

The judge said the trial will begin on Sept. 8 with prospective jurors being given questionnaires. Opening statements are expected in late September

[bec]

September 8th can't come fast enough.

[PureLove]

Ohh boy ... we need to fasten our seat belts for this. It's definitely going to be a bumpy ride.

[techdiva]

Ohh boy ... we need to fasten our seat belts for this. It's definitely going to be a bumpy ride.

I'll second that!!!

[curls]

September 8th can't come fast enough.

Don't get carried away Bec - you know the drill by now - those carrots get dangled in front us and we follow (like 'asses', maybe), only to get within sniffing distance and have them move them off into the distance again.

Sorry, not feeling too good today.

[suspicious mind]

September 8th can't come fast enough.

Don't get carried away Bec - you know the drill by now - those carrots get dangled in front us and we follow (like 'asses', maybe), only to get within sniffing distance and have them move them off into the distance again.

Sorry, not feeling too good today.

how long can they  do that before someone besides us starts asking why?