Michael Jackson Trial 2011: Physician Conrad Murray Prepares to Go Before Court
Conrad Murray begins trial Tuesday for involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson
Opening statements will begin Tuesday regarding the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson by his official physician, Conrad Murray.
The trial begins two years after Jackson, age 50, went into cardiac arrest at his home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, on June 25.
Conrad was the only person to witness Jackson’s cardiac arrest.
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Conrad is being tried for involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors argue that he administered a fatal dose of propofol, a powerful anesthetic usually reserved for surgeries.
Coroners found .13 milligrams of the drug in Jackson’s stomach.
Beginning at 1:30 am, Murray gave Jackson five doses of the three drugs Valium, lorazepam, and midazolam, in a time span of six hours.
Murray claims to have resisted giving Jackson propofol for fear of addiction, but finally succumbed at 10:40 am. A 911 call was made at 12:21 pm.
Various empty and full bottles of the drug were found around Jackson’s home. Sources say Jackson was very familiar with the drug, contacting doctors in the past for its prescription approval, and referring to it as his “milk.”
Jackson, who suffered from a severe sleeping disorder, was taking prescription drugs to catch up on rest in preparation for his upcoming rigorous 50 day tour beginning in July.
The Jackson family agrees that Jackson was in no physical shape to do such a large tour; he had recently had a broken back, and was in no position to do 50 tour dates.
Jackson fans argue not only did Murray provide Jackson with an excessive amount of propofol and sedatives, but that he should not have been encouraging Jackson to do the tour in the first place.
Rather, he should have urged Jackson to rest using holistic methods, not prescription drugs.
Propofol is usually only used in surgical procedures, and the majority of doctors argue it should never be used as a sleep aid.
Defense attorneys will argue that Jackson secretly administered another dose of propofol to himself when Murray left the room, and his poor health contributed to his death.
Jackson was 136 pounds at 5’9” when he died.
They also plan to argue that Jackson was a drug addict, and receiving prescription drugs from multiple doctors without Murray’s knowledge.
Prosecutors plan to argue that Jackson was in good health, supporting their argument by showing a clip of Jackson practicing dance moves for his upcoming tour just days before his death.
They will also argue that Murray’s extended absence from Jackson’s room after administering the drug, and his belated police report concerning propofol, prove his guilt.
145 potential jurors filled out 30 different questionnaires, asking them an array of questions to help determine the final 12 jurors. Questions included asking how many Michael Jackson CD’s they’ve owned, their history with sleep disorders, and their personal experience with 27 different prescription drugs.
Jackson family lawyer Brian Oxman argues that it is nearly impossible to find jurors who do not have a preconceived notion regarding the world famous king of pop; the goal of attorneys is to rather find jurors with a preconceived notion that is unbiased and fair.
Attorneys also stalked jurors’ social networks to scout potential bias.
Out of the seven men, five women jury, half claim to be fans of Michael Jackson. The jurors come from a variety of backgrounds, including one British born juror, one juror with a DUI history, and one who was a victim of a drive-by shooting.
High security will be present at the LA Courthouse tomorrow, which is expecting a swarm of Jackson fans and paparazzi.
