Est. 1998
‘This Is It’ Footage At Trial?
Prosecutors in the trial of Michael’s doctor, want to show footage of Michael rehearsing for his ‘This Is It,’ tour shortly before his death, in order to show he had no intention of ending his life.
On Tuesday the prosecution requested permission to exhibit video clips from a few days before the pop star’s death on June 25th 2009, in which Michael is seen singing and dancing in a rehearsal for his ‘This is It’
tour.
With less than three weeks to go before the opening of the trial, Prosecutors David Walgren and Deborah Brazil argued in the motion that the images show an “active, energetic” Michael involved in the creative process.
The clips “support the prosecution’s theory that Michael Jackson was actively involved in preparing for his upcoming tour, that he was engaged in the decision-making process and that he had every reason to want to live. These video clips are completely at odds with someone who, as the defense has claimed, would recklessly take his own life just hours after the last clip was filmed,” they wrote. The clips were filmed on June 23rd-24th 2009.
Murray’s defense team has argued that Michael took an extra dose of the drug without his doctor’s knowledge, in order to end his life, saying the pop star was concerned about his mounting debts.
The prosecution has also requested to show photos from Michael’s autopsy, a demand rejected by the defense, which said the publication of the images would prejudice the jury. The prosecution said the pictures in question are not gruesome, but instead show the star in “excellent health,” further eroding the suicide theory.
“Put most simply, these limited photographs will help demonstrate that Michael Jackson was generally in excellent health and that, while thin, his body weight was within the normal range,” prosecutors said in the motion.
If or when convicted Murray will serve up to four years in prison.
Source: theage.com.au & MJWN
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