The 12 jurors who will decide the fate of Michael Jackson's doctor -- seven men and five women -- were chosen ahead of the start of his manslaughter trial next week. The jury was chosen on Friday, from a pool of 84 potential candidates for the panel who will spend the next five weeks hearing evidence about Conrad Murray's role in Jackson's shock death in 2009, at the age of 50. Murray, who is accused of killing the pop icon by administering an overdose of the powerful sedative Propofol to help Jackson sleep on June 25, 2009, is due to go on trial in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Three women and two men were also chosen as alternate jurors at the LA Superior Court, to be ready to serve in case one of the 12-member jury has to withdraw for some reason. Judge Michael Pastor noted that the trial will be televised, but promised the jury that "at no time will jurors be photographed or filmed or otherwise recorded," adding: "We take your privacy seriously." To ensure lack of bias on the court panel, prospective jurors had already filled out an extensive questionnaire asking them about their knowledge of their case. Lawyers gradually narrowed the field down. At one point, when 27 still remained, Murray's attorney Edward Chernoff asked if they could honestly say they knew nothing about Jackson or about his doctor. None raised their hands. Prosecutor David Walgren asked one why she had put an exclamation mark after responding No when asked whether she had seen "This Is It," the film made from rehearsal footage showing Jackson preparing for a series of comeback concerts. "That was an emphatic no... I wasn't interested," she responded. Chernoff added that "there is a lot of publicity involved in this case," and that it "may be an interesting case," and "fascinating" for people who were interested in science. Asked to describe Jackson's personality, one woman said she remembered him "as a child, his dancing, his music" and remembered the Jackson Five, the group comprising the young Jackson with five of his brothers. Another insisted he had no preconceptions about the case. "I feel I'd be fair ... Everything I hear will be the first time," he said, before being dismissed by the defense. One potential juror, a nurse, became visibly emotional under questioning. After talking to the judge and lawyers privately, she was dismissed.
GMT 11:38 2018 Friday ,12 October
German Artist escorted to final resting place in DamascusGMT 13:42 2018 Friday ,05 October
Jailed Ukrainian filmmaker ends hunger strikeGMT 13:10 2018 Wednesday ,03 October
A year after Weinstein, Hollywood is still soul-searchingGMT 13:01 2018 Wednesday ,03 October
Burglars targeting Rihanna, Christina Milian arrestedGMT 09:24 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
Cosby performs for first time since assault chargeGMT 09:18 2018 Saturday ,20 January
India's top court acquits Bollywood director of rapeGMT 09:24 2018 Saturday ,13 January
Breast cancer gene does not boost risk of deathGMT 08:38 2018 Wednesday ,10 January
US network replaces shamed anchor with another manMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor