Trial for doctor in Jackson’s death delayed
LOS ANGELES — A doctor charged in the death of Michael Jackson will have to wait a while longer for his trial after a judge on Wednesday postponed opening statements until May.
Dr. Conrad Murray consented to the postponement after his attorneys and prosecutors said they could be ready for his involuntary manslaughter trial by then, a transcript of a closed session meeting shows.
“It is only acceptable to me if this is not strung along over a long period of time,” Murray told the judge, according to the transcript. “I don’t want to lose my constitutional right to speedy trial.”
The Houston-based cardiologist, who has an office in Las Vegas and who has been seeking a speedy trial because of financial difficulties, told Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor he understood the delay was necessary to allow both sides to better prepare for trial.
Pastor met in closed session with Murray, his attorneys and prosecutors before announcing opening statements will begin May 9.
Murray told the judge he would agree to the delay if the screening of prospective jurors begins as scheduled March 24.
The judge agreed, saying he did not want to lose a jury pool and that a delay might allow potential jurors to re-arrange their schedules for a trial that could last up to two months.
Murray has pleaded not guilty and his attorneys maintain he did not give Jackson anything that should have killed the singer.