Judge in Jackson death case rejects sequestration of jury

Aug 25, 2011, 20:02 GMT

Los Angeles - The judge in the manslaughter case of Michael Jackson's doctor has rejected a request by defence lawyers to sequester the jury to ensure they are not influenced by blanket media coverage.

'I expect that the jurors will follow the high road and that means that they will not be in the receipt of or in contact with information regarding this case' outside the courtroom, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor said at a hearing, according to the Los Angeles Times Thursday.

'I have tremendous faith in the jury system and in the individual promises of jurors,' he said.

Dr Conrad Murray is charged with manslaughter leading to Jackson's death on June 25, 2009. He allegedly gave the late King of Pop the doses of the hospital anesthetic propofil that led to his death just as he was about to embark on a sold-out comeback tour.

Murray's attorneys, Nareg Gourjian and Edward Chernoff, had contended in court papers that 'there is reasonable expectation that Dr Murray's trial will be the most publicized in history.'

'This is an unusual trial,' the attorneys said. 'Without question, Michael Jackson is one of the most well-known figures in the world. His death, memorial service and every court appearance thereafter involving Dr. Murray has attracted unprecedented media coverage.'