Dr. Conrad Murray’s manslaughter trial over the death of Michael Jackson has been postponed.
A judge has been forced to delay the trial from its scheduled April 5 date to May 9, as the prosecution and the defence are still passing information between them.
Dr. Murray – who faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter relating to the ‘Thriller’ singer, after he died of acute Propofol intoxication while under the physician’s care in June 2009 - is seeking a quick court case due to financial difficulties.
He consented to the new trial date after meeting with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael E. Pastor and attorneys in a closed session.
Earlier this week, defence lawyer J. Michael Flanagan said: “We need to go to trial right away. We don't have the budget that would let us draw this out.”
Despite this, it is thought the defence has been the cause for delays, with Judge Pastor repeatedly questioning Dr. Murray’s defence team in recent weeks as to why they had not turned over more notes on witnesses and other potential evidence to prosecutors in advance of the trial.
In accordance with US court process, prosecutors are entitled to receive discovery of defence evidence 30 days before trial starts, a deadline which would have already passed if the original date was kept. Judge Pastor has also threatened Dr. Murray’s lawyers with big fines for failing to share evidence with prosecutors.
Despite the date for opening statements in the case being delayed, the screening of potential jurors will still start on the original date of March 24.
The trial is expected to last for around two months. - Bang Showbiz