The Discovery Channel has removed a scheduled documentary about the autopsy of Michael Jackson citing the commencement of legal proceedings as the reason to drop the program.

The channel scheduled the special 'Michel Jackson's Autopsy: What Really Killed Michael Jackson' to originally air on January 13. When the show was first announced the channel received a petition from thousands of fans demanding they pull the show.

The Discover Channel was criticised for trying to exploit the singer's death. The show, featuring a re-enactment of Jackson's last days has been called 'distasteful'.

Dr Conrad Murray, the doctor who prescribed the medication that killed Jackson, will commence a preliminary hearing tomorrow (January 4, 2010) in Los Angeles. Based on the hearing, the court will decide if Dr Murray will go to trial for the manslaughter of Jackson.

Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009 from a drug overdose prescribed by Dr Murray.