Michael Jackson Autopsy Photos to be Shown to Conrad Murray Jury
A judge hearing the Michael Jackson manslaughter case says prosecutors can show jurors two images from the singer's autopsy.
Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor ruled Thursday that prosecutors trying Dr. Conrad Murray can show what Pastor described as benign photos that are not graphic or gruesome, the AP reports.
Deputy District Attorney David Walgren told the judge that he intends to introduce photos during the upcoming trial that will be carefully displayed.
The trial of Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's doctor, is underway in a Los Angeles courtroom, after attorneys slowly worked their way through jury selection.
Conrad Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter for negligently supplying the King of Pop with Propofol.
Given the extent to which Michael Jackson's life and death have been publicized, it's no surprise people are interested in every detail of this trial. The fact that the jury will get to see 2 of Michael Jackson's autopsy photos is an interesting wrinkle in this case.
Normally, evidence (be it photos or testimony) of a graphic nature are scrutinized heavily by a judge before he allows them to go to a jury. Such evidence cannot too prejudicial (read: shocking) and must have some relevance to the proceedings. In this case, the judge has looked over the Michael Jackson autopsy photos and has instructed the prosecution that they be carefully displayed. So in come.
Related Resources:
- Judge says 2 Michael Jackson autopsy photos can be shown during doctor's manslaughter trial (Washington Post)
- Michael Jackson Suicide to be Dr. Conrad Murray's Defense? (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice)
- Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's Doctor, Charged with Manslaughter (FindLaw's Courtside)