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YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS: The judge in singer Michael Jackson's involuntary manslaughter case has ordered the prosecution and the defense back to court Wednesday morning to discuss discovery issues.
In the last hearing, the judge ordered the defense to hand over to prosecutors statements and reports gathered from potential defense witnesses.
Dr. Conrad Murray is charged in the 2009 death of singer Michael Jackson.
California court rules require both sides to meet certain discovery requirements 30 days before a trial starts, which was Tuesday in Murray's case.
"We've been down this road before, and I hope we don't have to go down it again," Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor said during a hearing Monday after prosecutors complained that the defense was holding back.
Prosecutors have not seen statements from 76 of the 103 people on the defense witness list, documents that would let them know what they might testify about, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said.
"We can resolve this," lead defense lawyer Ed Chernoff told the judge. The defense has insisted it has handed over everything it has collected, but that many of the potential witnesses have not cooperated.
The judge ordered lawyers back to court Wednesday morning, 29 days before jury selection is set to begin, so he can "get a handle" on the discovery issues.
Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, was from an overdose of the surgical anesthetic propofol, combined with other drugs, the Los Angeles coroner ruled.
Murray, whom Jackson hired to care for him as he prepared for his comeback concerts in London, is accused of administering the fatal dose.