A defence attorney for Dr Conrad Murray (pictured) claims that Michael Jackson committed suicide because of his mounting debts. 

Murray, Jackson’s personal physician, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter after prescribing the singer a potentially deadly cocktail of sedatives.

"We believe at the time Michael Jackson died he was a desperate man in relation to his financial affairs," attorney Edward Chernoff said during the pretrial hearing.

"This is an irrelevant sideshow designed to take issues away from the jury and smear Michael Jackson. It has nothing to do with the case on which Dr Murray is being prosecuted," Deputy District Attorney David Walgren countered.

Juror screening for the trial, which is due to commence in May, is currently in progress.

Watch the trailer for ‘This Is It,’ which was meant to be Jackson’s final tour, below.