Defense lawyers for the doctor charged in Michael Jackson’s death are urgently seeking testing of two syringes and an IV bag found in the singer’s mansion.
The lawyers are claiming some evidence has already deteriorated after the June 2009 death of Jackson.
Attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray detailed the state of the items Tuesday in a 40-minute closed session with a judge. A transcript of the meeting obtained by The Associated Press includes assertions by the cardiologist’s attorneys that the liquid in one of the syringes has turned to salt. The attorneys were seeking an order allowing a specialist to try to determine the quantities of substances in two syringes and the IV bag.
Judge Michael Pastor refused after prosecutors said they weren’t made aware of the request for evidence testing until immediately before Tuesday’s hearing. The testing requested by the defense will destroy the substances and can only be done once.
Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the pop superstar’s drug overdose death.
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