Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray asks for jury isolation in trial

Lawyers for Michael Jackson's former doctor Conrad Murray have asked that the jury in his upcoming manslaughter trial be isolated.

J Michael Flanagan urged LA County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor to sequester members of the jury once the trial gets underway on September 8 over fears that the media coverage could influence them.

Although Flanagan is seeking to have jury members isolated 24 hours a day, he urged Judge Pastor to at the very least shield them from access to television "during the hours [HLN talkshow host] Nancy Grace is on TV", reports the Los Angeles Times.

Judge Pastor said that an isolation is unlikely due to the costs it would put on the court over the six-week trial, but invited Flanagan to file a formal motion for the request if he desired.

Murray stands accused of administering a lethal dosage of propofol and lorazepam to Jackson just before the 'Thriller' popstar passed away.

The physician has consistently maintained that Jackson injected himself with the drugs while he was out of the room.

If convicted, Murray could be sentenced to four years in jail.

Earlier this month, Murray's scheduled pretrial hearing was postponed so prosecutors and defence attorneys could review relevant outtakes from the Jackson concert film This Is It.

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Watch the This Is It trailer below: