Murray trial scheduled to start on September 26

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, ruled in a hearing Wednesday morning that jury selection is set to begin on September 8 with opening statements planned for September 26. Lawyers for the trial estimate the proceedings will go until Thanksgiving.

"That is still the go-date," Pastor said. "I want to keep a short leash on this case."

The lawyers talked about witness lists. Some of the discussions were in open court and the rest took place in chambers.

Wednesday's hearing offered a peek into the previously secret defense witness list when it was revealed that a former office assistant for another doctor may testify about allegations that he was giving Jackson drugs.

Jason Pfieffer, who worked as office manager and personal assistant for Dr. Arnold Klein, filed a legal action last week accusing the Beverly Hills dermatologist of supplying Jackson with prescription drugs during the last months before June 25.

Klein previously sued Pfieffer in federal court, accusing him of embezzling millions of dollars while he worked for him.

Last week, a lawyer for Klein told TMZ, "Dr. Klein is one of the most esteemed and respected dermatologists in his profession in the country. This counterclaim is totally unfounded, and frankly it's garbage. The claims in Dr. Klein's lawsuit are very serious, and we're taking them all the way."

DEA inspected Klein's office last year and did not found anything illegal in his medical practice.

Murray's lawyer Ed Chernoff told the court Wednesday he intended to interview Pfieffer either Thursday or Friday of this week.

One potential roadblock to the trial starting on time was removed Wednesday when Deputy District Attorney David Walgren told the judge that the defense has provided a "much greater level of detail as to the status of the witnesses." Walgren had previously complained that information about 76 of the 103 witnesses on the defense list had not been disclosed.

Several hundred potential jurors will be screened to determine if their personal lives would allow them to sit through a two-month trial. Those who pass that test will be given a questionnaire with more than 100 questions to determine if they are qualified to be jurors.

The Los Angeles coroner ruled the case as a homicide and determined that the cause of the death was due to a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol, combined with other drugs.

Also, in the autopsy report the coroner stated that there is no trace of any kind of drug abuse by Michael Jackson and that he was in good health. Analisys have been based on the tests over the brain, which allow to identify any type of health issue during life, included any kind of possible abuse. 

Murray, who was hired to care for Michael Jackson as he prepared for his comeback concerts in London, is accused of administering the lethal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol and of not properly monitoring him, as he went out of the room to speak on the phone, as emerged during the days of the preliminary hearing.

Lawyers are set to talk with Judge Pastor during an in-chambers telephone conference Monday morning.