Michael Jackson's doctor wants trial delay, claims pop star was sick and took drug himself (video)

Lawyers of Dr. Conrad Murray, the prime accused in the high-profile manslaughter trial of pop star Michael Jackson has requested a delay in the trial as they need more time to prepare to cross-examine new prosecution witnesses.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor will decide on Monday whether to grant additional time. The jury is to be chosen by Wednesday and trial is scheduled to begin May 9.

Michael Jackson, 50, died on June 25, 2009 at his rented home in Los Angeles from an overdose of the powerful anesthetic drug propofol, according to autopsy reports. The pop star died just weeks before his much-anticipated This Is It comeback tour was scheduled to kick off.

Murray, a cardiologist, was hired as Jackson's personal physician while the pop star prepared for his comeback tour. He became the prime suspect after the Thriller singer died and was subsequently accused of gross negligence for administering Jackson an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol and other sedatives, which led to the pop star's death by heart failure.

Later, the doctor was charged with involuntary manslaughter of the pop star.

However, the doctor has pleaded not guilty and his lawyers claim Jackson swallowed propofol by himself.

Murray has admitted that he gave Jackson propofol as a sleep aid while he rehearsed for the comeback tour. However, the doctor has vehemently denied that it was a fatal overdose and has suggested that Jackson himself had swallowed the drug. The defense lawyers, led by Ed Chernoff, suggest Jackson was frustrated and desperate for sleep so that he could be ready for rehearsals for his comeback tour and so he drank or injected himself with the drug when Murray was away.

Prosecutors, on the other hand, claim it is impossible that Jackson had swallowed the drug and want to call new expert witnesses at the trial to counter Murray's suggestion. One such witness is Dr. Steven Shafer, an anesthesiologist, who says there is no way Jackson could have ingested the fatal dose of propofol himself.

Dr. Shafer says categorically, it's not possible Michael Jackson orally ingested propofol, based on the science, Deputy Dist. Atty. David Walgren told Judge Pastor on Friday.

If found guilty, Murray faces up to four years in prison.

Meanwhile, TMZ has reported that Murray's lawyers have subpoenaed Sony for the raw video footage from the This Is It rehearsals to show the jury that Jackson was weak and ill even before June 25 and so it really wasn't the propofol that killed him.

Do you think that argument will stand? Leave your comments below.

Meanwhile, here's a skinny on Jackson's final rehearsal for This Is It comeback tour - just 2 days before he died. Does Michael Jackson look sick to you?