Judge to decide Jackson syringe testing issues
Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 10:14AM LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge overseeing the criminal case of a doctor charged in Michael Jackson's death has scheduled a hearing to determine if medical items found in the singer's bedroom should undergo more testing that defense attorneys contend is crucial to the case.
Attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray have been asking for months that fluids in two syringes and an IV bag found in Jackson's rented mansion be tested to determine how much of the anesthetic propofol and painkiller lidocaine they contained.
Coroner's officials ruled Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication.
Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor will hear the testing arguments on Dec. 29 — six days before Murray is scheduled to appear for what is expected to be a lengthy, detailed preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for the cardiologist to stand trial.
Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
Murray's attorneys have struck an urgent tone regarding the need to test the medical items, saying the evidence is deteriorating. They have described the fluids in one of the syringes as having turned to "salt" and contended the testing should have been done after Jackson's death in June 2009.
Coroner's officials say in court filings the testing was not necessary to determine Jackson's cause of death.
Prosecutors have downplayed the significance and refused to enter into an agreement with Murray about testing the items.
The tests are likely to destroy the samples.
In a document filed Friday, coroner's officials laid out an experimental testing procedures they can use if Murray's motion is approved.
One of Murray's attorneys, J. Michael Flanagan, argued in a court filing the delay in testing the syringes might hurt the doctor's defense.
"An essential fact in this case is not only how much propofol was in Michael Jackson's body but how it was put into his body," Flanagan wrote. "Since further degradation and deterioration of the evidence makes it increasingly more difficult to test, the prejudice to the defendant is increasing."
District attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said prosecutors had not filed a response to Murray's motion.
Reader Comments (7)
Ok, really???? This adds up to making any sense whatsoever!!! I don't understand what is the problem here??! Why is all of this so @##@##?? confusing?? I see a lot of money and way too much time spent without any justice?!!! There are a lot of players here that need to get real for once!!! Where is the justice???
well shouldnt have this been done already!!!!!!!it makes no sense at all ...every test they had available should have been carried out on everything that was in murrays equipment and what was in michaels bedroom that day not 18 months later.....there must be some immcompitants somewhere or do i smell lies and cover ups in the police and legal systems in the usa AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The justice is amazing inefficient! I can't believe this!!
A lot of bull crap and wasting of time. All tests of everything present at crime scene should have been tested from the onset of investigation. It shouldn't matter anyway. What matters is what the autopsy report presents. Death caused by overdose of propofol. End of story. They need to get the show on the road. All this is just stalling for resets. Let's get the trial underway. No need for preliminary hearings. The charges have been filed. The defendent has pleaded "Not Guilty". Let's find out why he feels he's not guilty. Everything else is unimportant. We know how it was put into his body. A lot of time being wasted on foolishness IMHO.
CoughBSCough................ If this were the case, first of all, Murray's attorneys should have asked from DAY ONE. All I see is "LOOPHOLE".
Marking calendar to look for outcome of this hearing (and watching it live is anyone streams it).
Thanks Justice4MJ!
Merry Christmas!
Cali
WELL THIS IS JUST RIDICULOUS.EVIDENTLY MURRAY THINKS HE IS RESPONSIBLE SINCE HIS INITIAL ACTIONS WERE TO COVER HIS OWN BEHIND, COMPLETELY FORGETTING ABOUT HIS RESPONSIBILITIES TO MICHAEL
Wow. How convenient for them to wait 18 months before even initially testing the fluids in the syringe. How much more incompetence can be left undisturbed? In my opinion, this was no over sight. It was deliberate.