Murray Lawyer a No-Show at Contempt Hearing

Los Angeles - A hearing for a lawyer who gave an interview during the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray in the death of Michael Jackson was postponed today when the attorney failed to show up.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael E. Pastor wanted to talk to Matt Alford, who works for the firm headed by Murray lawyer Edward Chernoff, about an interview he gave during the involuntary manslaughter trial.

Pastor said he would order -- but hold -- a body attachment for Alford, whose secretary left a message for the court that he was in trial in Houston.

Alford is now due in court Nov. 29 -- the same day Murray is set to be sentenced for his Nov. 7 conviction for involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's June 25, 2009, death from propofol intoxication.

Pastor said he expected to get "written verification" about where Alford is engaged in trial and what efforts he made to try to notify the bench officer in Houston about his court date in Los Angeles.

Alford, a partner in Chernoff's firm, had been ordered Sept. 30 to return to court for further proceedings today after Alford spoke about the case with Ann Curry of NBC's "Today" show during the trial.

During the interview, Alford criticized testimony by one of Jackson's security guards, Alberto Alvarez, and said "his story has continued to evolve over time."

Following the interview, the judge issued a strong warning to attorneys and told them that they and their support staffs were not permitted to comment on any aspects of the case.

One of the defense's key witnesses, Dr. Paul White, is due back before Pastor Wednesday for a possible contempt hearing.

White initially got in trouble with the judge Oct. 21 for comments he made to a reporter about his longtime colleague, Dr. Steven Shafer, who was on the stand at the time. He also acknowledged to Pastor that he made a comment to Deputy District Attorney David Walgren.

Pastor chastised the defense's propofol expert 10 days later for making comments that were linked to his own conversations with Murray, which were not in evidence, and then again for telling jurors that he would like to explain something to them but that he couldn't.

Pastor said he was prepared to fine White $1,000, but would give him an opportunity to address the issue at the hearing. Meanwhile, a leader of a Jackson fan group apologized to Pastor for taking a photo in the hallway outside the courtroom during the trial.

Amy Kimes, a 43-year-old La Habra Heights mother of four, told the judge that she had initially lied to him when asked if she had taken a picture, but then told the truth to a courtroom bailiff.

"I took a picture that I shouldn't have taken," she said, noting that she realized soon afterward on her own accord that the posting to the Justice 4 MJ page on Facebook should be taken down.

"I'm mortified that I did something really not like me," she told the judge.

Pastor thanked Kimes for coming forward and told her there would be no further proceedings against her.