A judge in Los Angeles has approved a request from DR. CONRAD MURRAY's defence team to carry out further testing on medical items found in Michael Jackson's bedroom.
The physician has pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in relation to the pop superstar's death from an overdose of anaesthetic Propofol last year (09).
Murray's lawyers want two syringes and an IV bag, found at the star's Californian home, to be tested to determine the amount of drugs they contained, and they went to court on Wednesday (29Dec10) to argue their case.
Defence attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, alleged officials at the coroner's office should have done "quantitative" analysis of the items to help determine "the means of who injected Jackson" with the drugs that killed him.
Deputy District Attorney David Walgren voiced fears the defence team is working on the "theory" that "Michael Jackson killed himself".
Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor granted the defence team's request and offered them the chance to choose whether to use a private laboratory to test the items, or to hand them over to the Los Angeles coroner.
Murray is due back in court on Tuesday (04Jan11) for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence to make him stand trial.