Michael Jackson Murder Trial 2011: The 'Weapon'
It was the potent white sedative Propofol that killed the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson on the night of June 25, 2009.
In the high-profile trial, the prosecution is trying to convince the jury that it was Dr. Murray’s “gross negligence” in treating Jackson with Propofol and numerous other drugs that killed the superstar.
The fast-acting sedative is normally used on patients who are undergoing surgery or other serious medical procedures, ABC reported.
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Propofol is often called “milk of amnesia” by some anesthesiologists because of its strength, and people close to the singer speculate that Jackson had a full blown addiction to the drug.
On June 25, it is alleged Murray administered the usual intravenous drip dosage of propofol, which Jackson called his “milk,” to help him sleep, along with lorazepam, an anti-anxiety medicine, and midazolam, a muscle relaxer.
It has been claimed that Murray left the room “briefly,” and when he returned, detected a weak heartbeat from the singer and no breathing.
Jackson was pronounced dead officially at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center the same day.
Murray’s defense attorney Ed Chernoff told the jury that Jackson injected himself with a dose of Propofol once Murray left the room, creating a “perfect storm” that killed him instantly.
Chernoff added that Jackson “had a problem” and that he was killed so fast “that he didn’t even have to time to close his eyes.”
Murray told police that he had applied CPR immediately, and in a suspicious act, administered another drug- flumazenil, in order try counteracting the tranquilizers.
Murray was contacted to treat one of Jackson’s children for an unknown medical situation in 2006. The two became friends, and the singer offered Murray a full time position to be his personal physician while on tour in 2009, for a reported $150k per month.
The arrangement was speculated to be the result of Jackson’s dependence on drugs and inability to sleep. Following Jackson’s death, police investigators found over 20 different prescriptions inside his rented Holmby Hills home, including methadone, fentanyl, Percocet, dalaudid, and vicodin.
Conrad Murray’s trial began September 8 and the jury will likely take several months to decide a verdict. The physician pleads not guilty, and if convicted, he faces a maximum of four years in prison and will likely never be able to practice medicine again.
