Michael Jackson’s jury will not be sequestered
August 25, 2011 by admin
Filed under Jury will not be sequestered
Although the defense argued the jury in the manslaughter of Michael Jackson could be influenced by the likes of Nancy Grace and others, the judged ruled no to sequestering the jury during the upcoming trial.
He noted it had nothing to do with the cost estimated as an additional $500,000 to sequester them.
Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor said it was not a close call about whether he thought jurors hearing the case should be kept from their daily lives during the four to six week trial.
Attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray had argued that sequestration is the only way to ensure a fair trial. Attorney Ed Chernoff said that if a case involving the death of the King of Pop didn’t justify sequestration, then there likely isn’t another case in which it’s warranted.
The judge, however, said he trusted jurors to heed his warnings about reading or listening to news reports about the case.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Sept. 8 and opening statements are to begin Sept. 27.
The judged noted that a jury hasn’t been sequestered in Los Angeles since the O.J. Simpson murder trial.
Do you think the jury should be sequestered?
