Jury selection begins in trial of Michael Jackson's physician
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Xinhua, September 9, 2011
All 160 prospective jurors have heard of Michael Jackson's widely-publicized death and the ensuing charges filed against his personal physician, Conrad Murray, as jury selection for the trial was launched Thursday here in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael E. Pastor, who is overseeing the high-profile trial, asked the potential panelists if any of them had been unaware of the case. "We didn't expect you 'd been living under a rock ... or made a pit stop from Mars," he quipped.
All future jurors appeared at a downtown jury-assembly room for the selection by the judge and attorneys for Murray, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter of the King of Pop for administering propofol on the singer to help him fall asleep, then failing to properly monitor him on June 25, 2009 when the late pop icon died rehearsing for his comeback London concerts.
The prospective panelists would be asked to fill out an " exhaustive" questionnaire of some 30 pages, detailing their knowledge about the case. They also have to talk about their opinions about doctors, drugs and law enforcement, the main elements involved in the trial.
One hundred juror candidates would be selected and be brought back for questioning. More jurors will be brought in on Friday and possibly Monday if fewer people come up, according to the court papers.
Pastor also cautioned the prospective jurors to avoid any media coverage about the trial including when browsing the Internet, and refrain from doing any cyber research about Murray or the case. If anyone violated the warning, he or she would be put in "prison" in contempt of court.
The trial is expected to begin later this month with opening statements. If convicted, Murray, a 58-year-old cardiologist, will face up to four years behind bars.
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