Jackson doctor’s attorney implies singer’s suicide

LOS ANGELES -- Michael Jackson was on the brink of financial ruin when he agreed to do his "This is It" concert tour, and his fear of failure spurred by severe insomnia drove him to take desperate measures that killed him, a lawyer for his doctor said Wednesday,

The statements by defense attorney Ed Chernoff during a pretrial hearing brought a new twist to the case being built by lawyers for Dr. Conrad Murray, who has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death.

While seeking access to Jackson's financial records, Chernoff added Wednesday that Jackson was in anguish over his financial situation and faced ruin if he failed to perform during the upcoming tour.

"The crux of the defense is going to be that Michael Jackson engaged in a desperate act and took desperate measures that caused his death," Chernoff told Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor.

Chernoff's attempt to see Jackson's financial records was blocked by Judge Pastor, who said he would not allow such a "deep sea fishing" expedition.

The defense attorney said Jackson had leveraged his main asset, the music catalog that includes the work of the Beatles, and that even if he completed the tour, he would remain in financial distress.

Attorney Howard Weitzman, who represents the estate of Jackson, disagreed.

"Is the theory that Michael Jackson committed suicide, took his own life?" Weitzman asked. "I don't think that's a salable theory."

Defense lawyers have never used the word suicide and implied Jackson's death was accidental but self-inflicted.

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren accused Chernoff of trying to distract from the main issue of the trial: whether Murray acted with gross negligence when he gave Jackson propofol and other sedatives on the day he died.