Judge approves viewing of Michael Jackson's This is it out-takes

Judge approved the viewing of the raw footage not included in the This Is It movie during a hearing of last Friday.

The lawyers want to show excerpts from the movie to demonstrate Jackson's physical condition.

At one point in the court hearing, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor asked if prosecutors wanted to show the entire movie to jurors, but the issue was tabled for later discussion.

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren initially asked to show excerpts from the rehearsals of the days June 23 and 24.

Defence lawyers asked to see out-takes not used in the movie and requested to view the time frame starting with the 10 days before the June 25.

Walgren said prosecutors want to see the same raw footage that is viewed by the defence.

Defence lawyer Nareg Gourjian objected to the prosecution's request to sit in on the private screening, saying the subpoena was issued by the defence.

Walgren countered that it would be "silly and a waste of time" for him to get a separate subpoena and the judge agreed.

Pastor said both sides can go to Sony studios beginning on Tuesday and view 21 boxes of audio-visual materials that have been estimated to capture 100 hours of rehearsal time.

Murray, who was Michael Jackson's physician for the Tour, is charged with involuntary manslaughter for having administered him a lethal dose of the powerful anesthetic Propofol combined with other sedatives.

The trial is expected to start on September 20, while jury selection is scheduled to begin on September 8. Although, recently, prosecutors asked for another delay saying they need three more weeks because of scheduling issues. The judge will decide next month.

MJFS