Monday, January 31, 2011

Jury selection is set to resume in the trial of Michael Jackson's physician, Dr. Conrad Murray



LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- Jury selection is set to resume in the trial of Michael Jackson's physician, Dr. Conrad Murray.

He is charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson's death.

A new pool of potential jurors will be summoned to court on April 7th.

Last week, 147 potential jurors -- less than half of an initial jury pool of 340 -- said they had time to be on a two-month trial.

Of those who were willing to serve, the judge said many would probably have to be sent home because of their views on the case.

All potential jurors are being asked to complete an extended questionnaire about their knowledge in the case.

Only three of the people screened so far indicated they didn't know anything about the case.

In-person jury selection is scheduled to begin on May 4.

Meantime, Murray fired his publicist last Thursday, after she acknowledged she released a copy of the questionnaire given to jurors in his case.

Judge Michael Pastor had ordered that the questions included in the 27-page questionnaire be kept confidential, and was notified of the posting in his chambers by defense attorneys.

Murray's media team reportedly released six suggested questions, none of which ended up in the final questionnaire.

After Thursday's hearing, Murray's attorney Ed Chernoff confirmed that Houston-based publicist Miranda Sevcik was responsible for the leak.

According to the L.A. Times, Sevcik was hired by Murray's team two days after Jackson's death.

Pastor has been taking measures to shield potential jurors from outside influences, even catering lunch for the groups last week.

He also blasted questions posted by a website that were supposedly from the questionnaire as "bogus" -- an apparent reference to a TMZ.com article.

Murray is accused of involuntary manslaughter in the June 2009 death of Jackson.

Opening statements in the trial are expected to begin May 9, and the judge has ruled that cameras will be allowed in the courtroom.

Prosecutors contended the Houston-based cardiologist was on the phone and distracted after administering a powerful anesthetic to Jackson.

They also believe the singer was dead by the time Murray summoned help.

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