Michael Jackson trial won't show unreleased footage

Jurors in the Michael Jackson manslaughter trial will not see unreleased footage from This Is It, the documentary-concert film that documents the rehearsals for the tour of the same name that would have kicked off in July of 2009, reports the Associated Press. Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor ruled

Monday that the more than 100 hours of unreleased footage do not show the singer in poor health, and should be left out of the trial as they would offer no assistance to the defense. Attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray, who has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter, wanted to show four hours of the film, while prosecutors wished to show up to 12 hours.

Pastor reviewed several hours of the footage, then canceled his plans to visit Sony Pictures Studios for the rest. Sony filed a motion Friday citing comments by defense attorney J. Michael Flanagan, who called a review of the footage a “big waste of time.” Pastor agreed that the footage, which could be used for extended versions of This Is It, have significant value to Sony and should not be shown publicly without good reason. Jury selection is slated to begin on Sept. 8.