Jackson trial a star-studded media circus

The Michael Jackson hearing hopes to determine whether the pop singer died in a sad accident, or if he was instead the unwitting victim of a criminally negligent doctor.

Dr Conrad Murray had been hired to attend the 50-year-old singer during a series of comeback gigs at the O2 Arena in London.

Jackson died after suffering a cardiac arrest. At least six different drugs, most of them sedatives and painkillers which should not usually be mixed, were later found in his bloodstream.

They had apparently been prescribed to help him overcome chronic insomnia. According to the coroner, the fatal dose was a 20ml shot of Propofol, an anaesthetic which can be highly addictive and is known as "milk of amnesia". Murray, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, denies administering the drug in dangerous quantities.

THE CASE

Normally, a preliminary hearing lasts only a few hours and features perfunctory evidence from a couple of witnesses. But the hearing is scheduled to see almost 30 people over almost a fortnight. This has surprised legal experts.

"On one hand, the extended hearing might be PR for the prosecutors and the evidence they unveil could even persuade Dr Murray to cop a plea bargain," said Royal Oakes, a courtroom analyst. "But it gives the defence a huge chance to look for inconsistencies in their argument."

THE DEFENDANT

Murray, 57, was paid US$150,000 ($196,000) a month as Jackson's personal doctor. He is accused of acting as an "enabler", who was paid an outrageously large salary to feed his wealthy client's addiction to prescription medication.

Although Murray claims to have monitored Jackson carefully, in the hours before his death mobile phone records reveal him to have spoken to three separate callers, including his girlfriend, between 11.18am and 12.05pm on June 25, which is about the time of the fatal heart attack. The prosecution will argue that this adds up to criminal negligence.

The defence, for its part, hopes to convince a jury that Jackson killed himself, claiming the singer used a syringe left by his bed to take an oversized dose of Propofol while Murray was in the bathroom.

THE WITNESSES

Prosecutors will keep the biggest stars up their sleeve. The defence won't call anyone at all: they will sit and listen, looking for holes to pick when the case reaches a full trial.

THE LAWYERS

The star of the show is Michael Pastor, a judge who has handled several celebrity cases, including one involving topless photographs of Cameron Diaz. Prosecuting is David Walgren, Los Angeles' Deputy District Attorney, who has made headlines for spearheading efforts to secure the extradition of film director Roman Polanski on charges of child molestation. The defence is headed by Ed Chernoff, whose team includes Michael Flanagan, one of LA's top drink-driving defenders who is known for his ability to pick holes in the evidence of police blood analysts.

THE FAMILY

The opening day was attended by Jackson's mother, Katherine, along with his brother Jackie and sister La Toya. Jackson's children, Paris, Prince Michael, and Prince Michael II may eventually be called to give evidence.

THE CIRCUS

Fifty satellite trucks, hundreds of reporters and a smattering of fans descended on LA Superior Court and are likely to keep up their vigil for as long as the case lasts. There are only 15 spaces in court for journalists, but an overflow room, with a video link-up, will house the rest of the media circus. Cameras will be banned from the courtroom.

- INDEPENDENT