Feed: Entertainment News Sky
Posted on: Monday, April 29, 2013 15:16
Author: Entertainment News Sky
Subject: Michael Jackson Trial Will Highlight Struggles
Detailed accounts of Michael Jackson's final months are to be heard during a civil trial that will pit the singer's family against the organisers of an ill-fated comeback tour. Lawyers for Jackson's family will try to convince a jury in Los Angeles that the company promoting the King of Pop's 2009 comeback concerts is responsible for his untimely death. They will attempt to prove that AEG Live hired and controlled Conrad Murray, the doctor convicted of involuntary manslaughter over Jackson's demise. AEG Live denies any wrongdoing. It contests it did not hire or supervise Murray and claims that Jackson had prescription drug problems for years before entering into any agreement for the This Is It London concerts. It also argues it could not have foreseen that Murray posed a danger to Jackson.
Conrad Murray is serving a four-year prison sentence Jackson, 50, died of an overdose of the powerful surgical anaesthetic propofol and a cocktail of other sedatives in Los Angeles in June 2009. A jury of six men and six women has been selected to decide the civil case. Opening statements later today will provide a roadmap for the trial that promises to delve into Jackson's addiction struggles and issues previously unexplored in the criminal case. Many of those in the singer's inner circle are expected to testify during the trial, which could last around three months. Some of the stars listed on the witness list include Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, Lou Ferrigno and Spike Lee.
Jackson's children Prince, Blanket and Paris could testify Both of Jackson's ex-wives, Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe, and his three children - Prince, Paris and Blanket - are also listed as potential witnesses. Murray is not being sued but is also on the witness list, although he has said in prison that he will refuse to answer questions for fear of jeopardising his appeal process. Unlike Murray's trial, which was broadcast live, the civil case will play out without cameras in a courtroom with only 45 public seats. AEG Live has said in court filings that Jackson's family is seeking $40bn in damages, but one of the family's lawyers denied that figure. "We've never asked for $40bn," attorney Brian Panish said. "The jury is going to decide what the loss is." Mr Panish accused AEG Live of trying to "prejudice everybody against the Jacksons", adding that the case is not about money. He said: "It's about getting the truth. We'd like to get out all the evidence. The evidence is going to speak for itself that AEG had a lot of involvement and they completely deny responsibility." |
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