LOS ANGELES ? All of the approximately 160 people who reported for potential jury duty in the Michael Jackson manslaughter trial Thursday indicated they had some knowledge of the case.
But that didn't concern the judge, who spoke to the group in the first stage of a trial that will focus on the final hours of the King of Pop's life.
"We didn't expect you'd been living under a rock for the past several years, or that you made a pit stop from Mars," Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor said.
The initial screening process is aimed at finding enough eligible people to serve on the case, which Pastor said would last roughly five weeks. Those who are able will then fill out a 30-page questionnaire aimed at determining their level of knowledge of the case and any strong opinions about Jackson or Murray.
Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Authorities contend he gave the singer a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol in the bedroom of the singer's rented mansion in June 2009, but attorneys for the physician deny he administered anything that should have killed the pop superstar.
The group of potential jurors was silent throughout Pastor's introductory remarks, as was Murray.
Thursday's session was the second attempt this year to find a jury for the case.
Getting an eligible pool of jurors took three days earlier this year, and Pastor begrudgingly dismissed them in May when he agreed to delay the trial to give Murray's attorneys more time to prepare.
This time, the judge hopes to find 100 people to fill out the questionnaire, court spokeswoman Mary Hearn said. Prosecutors and defense attorneys will have several days to scrutinize the responses before direct questioning of potential jurors begins on Sept. 23.
Finding people who hadn't heard about the case was a challenge last time ? only one person, who didn't speak English, expressed no knowledge of the case. Awareness of a high-profile case is not automatic grounds for disqualification from jury service, and Pastor has expressed confidence that a group can be found who will listen to the evidence impartially and also ignore widespread media coverage of the trial.
Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, stunned the world. The singer had been in final preparations for a series of comeback concerts in London, and the focus quickly turned to Murray, his personal physician.
The Houston-based cardiologist faces up to four years in prison and the loss of his medical license if convicted.
The case is expected to be highly technical but not without its share of Hollywood touches. Jackson's family will attend the proceedings ? with some members taking a break to watch a planned tribute concert in October ? and prosecutors also plan to show clips of the singer shot during his final rehearsals.
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AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report.
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Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/celebritydocket
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