L.A. Police Ask to Seal Jackson Records

A police detective asked a Nevada judge Wednesday to keep warrant documents in the Michael Jackson death investigation sealed until Jan. 18.

Los Angeles police Detective Orlando Martinez made the request by telephone before Clark County District Court Judge Valerie Adair closed the hearing to the public.

Martinez did not provide further explanation while the hearing was open.

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Adair decided to wait at least one more day before deciding on a media request to unseal the records related to an Aug. 11 search of Applied Pharmacy Services in Las Vegas, where authorities say Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, bought the powerful sedative propofol.

Affidavits already made public show Murray told investigators he gave Jackson propofol and other sedatives to help Jackson sleep in the hours before the 50-year-old pop singer died June 25 in a rented Los Angeles mansion.

Murray has not been charged, but is the focus of a homicide investigation.

The judge intends to meet with a deputy Clark County district attorney on Thursday, then make her ruling.

Colby Williams, a lawyer for The Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, TMZ Productions Inc. of Los Angeles and Stephens Media LLC, the parent company of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, argued there was no reason for continued sealing of the records.

"The state has the burden to demonstrate the need," Williams said.
By Ken Ritter