Prosecutors want limits on witnesses for Michael Jackson's doctor

By Alan Duke, CNN

August 29, 2011 11:31 a.m. EDT

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Prosecutors want the judge in the trial of Michael Jackson's last doctor to exclude or limit the testimony of 26 witnesses Dr. Conrad Murray's defense lawyers said they might call.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor will hear their arguments Monday afternoon, just over a week before jury selection in the trial is set to start.

Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter for the June 25, 2009 death of Jackson, who would have turned 53 Monday.

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren filed a motion Friday arguing that a detective who investigated sexual molestation allegations against Jackson in 2003 should not be allowed to take the stand in Murray's trial.

"The current case should focus on the events surrounding the medical care provided to Michael Jackson by Conrad Murray," the prosecutor wrote. "The case should not be allowed to deteriorate into an unfair, unwarranted, and irrelevant attack on the deceased victim."

Jackson was acquitted on the charges after a trial in Santa Barbara County, California.

Prosecutors also want the testimony of several doctors who treated Jackson in his last months to be limited or excluded completely.

"None of these individuals was caring for Michael Jackson on the night of June 24, 2009, or the day of June 25, 2009, and none of these doctors was present with Michael Jackson when he died of acute propofol intoxication," the prosecution said.

Judge Pastor has indicated he would keep the trial limited to what happened the last several days of Jackson's life. His decisions on the prosecution's request to limit these witnesses should indicate how tightly the judge will limit the defense arguments.

Other witnesses the defense has said it wanted to call but the prosecutors want to exclude include John Branca, the lawyer who became executor of Jackson's estate after his death.

Prosecutors are demanding that defense lawyers, who have not interviewed Branca, explain why his testimony would be relevant to the Murray case.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin on September 8, with opening statements expected to be heard on September 27. Lawyers estimate the trial will conclude in early November.

If convicted on the involuntary manslaughter charge, Murray could face up to four years in prison.

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