Jurors in the Michael Jackson manslaughter case will not watch previously unseen footage from the singer’s final rehearsals to determine the state of his health before his death, a judge ruled Monday.
Pastor also agreed with attorneys for Sony Pictures Entertainment that the clips have significant value and should not be publicly shown without a good reason.
“There is absolutely nothing in those materials that could have been of assistance to the defense,” Pastor said.
Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said the footage “demonstrated that Michael Jackson was optimistic, engaged, confident, physically well.”
Pastor, who has ruled that snippets of the theatrical version of “This Is It” can be shown at trial, said it was unnecessary to show other clips.
“There are materials which I viewed which I would regard as extremely valuable to Sony,” the judge said. The footage could be used later for extended versions of “This Is It.”
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