The Michael Jackson Fan Club

(17-10-2011) Testimony in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray has been put on hold beyond Monday, and possibly longer, because the father of the prosecution's final witness died.
 
"Resumption of the trial will be announced when further information is available," an email from the court said on Sunday.

Despite the delay, the trial is expected to go to the jury early next week - several days sooner than was estimated when it began three weeks ago.
 
Dr. Steven Shafer, the anesthesiology expert who's father passed away, is crucial to the state's effort to prove Michael Jackson's death was caused by Murray's gross negligence in using the surgical anesthetic propofol to help the superstar sleep.

UPDATE: The trial will now resume on Wednesday. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor agreed to delay the case against Dr. Conrad Murray for another day after defense attorneys said they needed time to prepare for how to deal with testing the coroner's office conducted last week on the levels of lorazepam in Michael Jackson's system.

Defense attorneys have suggested that authorities ignored the effects the sedative lorazapam may have had on Jackson and said their own testing suggested that he had taken eight pills before his death.

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said the defense lab's results combine two numbers that make it seem like there was more lorazepam in Jackson's system than was present. He said the coroner's tests show a much smaller amount was actually in Jackson's system and are inconsistent with the theory that he swallowed several pills.

Lead defense attorney Ed Chernoff said he had many questions about the coroner's testing and had asked the agency to conduct the same test before the trial began but was told it could not be done. He said he didn't yet know what impact it will have on how the defense's case is presented.

Judge Pastor agreed it was an issue the defense needed time to address. He ordered attorneys to give him an update at a hearing Tuesday afternoon.

Source: MJFC / CNN.com / AP