A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge excluded the testimony of more than a dozen defense witnesses in the trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor, saying that they would confuse jurors and distract from the case.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor excluded the testimony of Michael Jackson’s longtime dermatologist, his business manager and the nanny of his three children.

“Discussions of these subject matters are sufficiently convoluted, distracting and detracting as to substantially outweigh any probative value whatsoever,” Pastor said.

A lawyer for Murray said the defense planned to file a motion later this week asking the judge to reconsider. “A large point of our defense has been gutted,” lawyer Edward Chernoff said, “but if we have to go to a tank battle with a switchblade, that is exactly what we’ll do.”

“The People are very concerned about this trial deteriorating into an attack on Michael Jackson,” Deputy Dist. Atty. David Walgren said.

LA Times