Sides in Jackson case allowed to view rehearsal footage

LOS ANGELES -- Defense attorneys and prosecutors in the involuntary manslaughter case against Michael Jackson's doctor won permission Friday to view raw footage that didn't make it into the concert movie "This Is It."

The lawyers want to show excerpts from the movie to demonstrate Jackson's physical condition before he died.

However, the ruling also sets the stage for the singer to become the posthumous star of the upcoming trial.

At one point in the court hearing, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor asked whether prosecutors wanted to show the entire movie to jurors, but the issue was tabled for later discussion.

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren initially asked to show excerpts of the actual movie compiled from rehearsals two days before Jackson's death on June 25, 2009.

Defense attorneys, however, asked to see outtakes not used in the movie and requested the time frame start 10 days before Jackson died.

Walgren said prosecutors want to see the same raw footage that is viewed by the defense.

Pastor said both sides can go to Sony studios starting Tuesday and view 21 boxes of audio-visual materials that have been estimated to capture 100 hours of rehearsals . Jackson was preparing for a London concert and died just before he was to leave for Britain.

Dr. Conrad Murray, hired as Jackson's private physician for the tour, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, accused of giving Jackson an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol and other sedatives. He has pleaded not guilty and is due for trial in September.

The hearing came one day before the second anniversary of Jackson's death. Some theaters in Hollywood are showing "This Is It" as a tribute to the singer over the weekend.