DR. Conrad Murray's lawyers want to show footage of Michael Jackson at his concert press conference in London at the medic's involuntary manslaughter trial to support allegations the singer was showing signs of frailty months before his death in 2009.
The King of Pop initially planned to play just 10 dates as part of his This Is It tour in the British capital, before it was boosted to a whopping 50 gigs to meet popular demand.
In a legal motion filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday (20Sep11), attorneys for Murray claim the superstar was ill when he met reporters at a press conference to announce the shows, three months before he died from a drug overdose.
The documents state: "At the press conference, Mr. Jackson informs the crowd that these 10 shows will be his 'final show performances' and that this was the 'final curtain call'. Mr. Jackson reiterates to the crowd that, 'When I say this is it, it really means this is it.'"
Murray's defence team goes on to allege that Jackson became stressed out after being forced to sign up for more shows against his will, and even expressed his anger to his make-up artist, Karen Faye: "Mr. Jackson told Ms. Faye, 'It wasn't supposed to be this way. This is not what it was supposed to be. Why can't I choose?'"
Murray's lawyers claim Jackson struggled with insomnia for months and was seriously considering scrapping the shows altogether if he failed to get enough rest.
The doctor stands accused of administering the anaesthetic that killed Jackson in 2009. He has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
The trial is due to begin later this month (Sep11).