Michael Jackson autopsy photos will be shown to jury

Micheal Jackson’s manslaughter trial jury will now see two very different images of the King of Pop on his final day. Video of Michael dancing and singing on stage will be presented along with and photos taken hours later of his lifeless body on a coroner’s gurney, a judge ruled Thursday.

Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor cleared prosecutors to present the rehearsal footage and autopsy photos during a lengthy hearing that established what evidence can be presented during next month’s involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray.

The judge barred both sides from delving far into the personal lives of both the physician and his famous patient, saying he wanted to focus the trial tightly on Murray’s medical care of Jackson in the months and days leading up to his 2009 death.

Jurors will hear nothing about Murray’s extramarital affairs, out-of-wedlock children and penchant for strip clubs, all evidence prosecutors had hoped to present. Jurors will also not hear evidence of evidence the defense said showed Jackson’s crushing debt and mountain of pending lawsuits.

The ruling on Jackson’s money woes was a particularly difficult blow for Murray, whose lawyers had said their case hinged on linking the singer’s desperate financial straits to their contention that he administered himself a fatal dose of propofol.

The judge said Jackson’s debt was irrelevant and said testimony from a financial analyst retained by the defense would make for “a battle of accountants” and “turn what should be a focused trial involving a charge of involuntary manslaughter into a salacious analysis of personal financial issues.”

“We simply are not going there,” he said.

In addition to losing the financial evidence fight, the defense also lost a fight to prohibit the use of the autopsy photos and video clips of rehearsal that were taken from the posthumous Jackson documentary “This Is It.”

Defense lawyer Nareg Gourjian said the clips were “sliced and diced” by moviemakers to give a false impression of Jackson’s abilities and health, but Deputy Dist. Atty. David Walgren said videos were “most probative as to Michael Jackson’s mental and physical well being and optimism for the future.”

Others may argue that the doctor’s conduct including his private affairs and habits should be brought in as evidence to show the doctor’s preoccupation with other issues other than the health of his patient.

Let us know what you think.