Michael Jackson trial: Defence witness faces contempt of court charge

Dr Paul White, a key defence witness in the Michael Jackson manslaughter trial, is facing a possible contempt of court charge and a $1,000 (£622) fine.

While testifying in court on Monday morning, White was repeatedly warned for mentioning private details from conversations between himself and Jackson's former private doctor Conrad Murray - information which prosecutor David Walgren repeatedly objected to upon the basis that it was inadmissible.

White, who is an expert in propofol, the anaesthetic which caused Jackson's death, was then privately scolded by Judge Michael Pastor for his testimony, part of which claimed that Jackson had his own private stash of the drug prior to his fatal overdose.

"Nice try. This is so obvious. He's trying at every juncture to add in other material. It's deliberate. I don't like it, it's not going to happen again," Pastor said.

White later insisted that he had more information to share with jurors but would be unable to as Pastor had blocked him from testifying further on his conversations with Murray.

That statement led Pastor to announce that he may charge White with contempt and a $1,000 fine, adding: "That is a direct violation of my order and quite frankly constitutes direct contempt."

White will attend a contempt hearing on November 16 in which he will be allowed to explain his actions before the judge decides whether to impose the fine.

Murray was recently moved to tears during character witness testimony from former patients who spoke out in support of him.

Dr Robert Waldmann has previously claimed that Jackson had large amounts of painkillers and Botox being put into his system in the months leading up to his death.

The trial continues.