Michael Jackson committed suicide, says lawyer

The defence lawyer for Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray has claimed that the singer was so worried over his financial situation that he committed suicide.

Murray is to stand trial for Jackson's death this year and has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Statements by attorney Edward Chernoff were released during a pretrial hearing on Wednesday and have now urged the defence to request Jackson's financial record, reports Billboard.

"The crux of the defence 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.

"We believe at the time Michael Jackson died he was a desperate man in relation to his financial affairs."

However, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren accused the defence of attempting to distract from the trial's main argument - deciding whether Murray acted with gross negligence when administering Jackson with anaesthetic propofol along with other sedatives.

"This is an irrelevant sideshow designed to take issues away from the jury and smear Michael Jackson," Walgren said.

Howard Weitzman, the representative for Jackson's estate, has also spoken out against the request, declaring: "Is the theory that Michael Jackson committed suicide, took his own life? I don't think that's a saleable theory."

The request for financial documents has been refused by a judge.

Opening statements for the case are due to be heard on May 9.