The latest “trial of the century” involves Dr. Conrad Murray
Even those who were not big fans of Michael Jackson will be brought to tears when they hear words spoken by Michael himself only six weeks before his death on June 25, 2009 and while he was apparently under the influence of some of the drugs he allegedly received from his doctor, Conrad Murray. Dr. Murray himself recorded a slurred conversation made by Jackson, presumably to demonstrate how deeply troubled he was due to the influence of potentially deadly drugs which Jackson gave to himself. Jurors, Jackson family members, and courtroom guests were all aghast and most in tears while listening to a rambling mumbling bit of conversation spoken by the familiar voice of Michael Jackson on May 10, 2009. Jackson said “I want them to say, ‘I’ve never seen nothing like this in my life,’” and he mumbled further “He’s the greatest entertainer of all time”. Words he meant as praise from his fans after his “This Is It” tour.
On the opening day of trial (August 27, 2011), much was covered during opening statements from both prosecution and the defense attorney. Defense attorney Ed Chernoff claims that Jackson personally added Propofol to his IV while Dr. Murray was out of the room. The doctor was out of the room for extended periods of time while talking with a lady friend on the telephone. He had put Michael Jackson on the anesthetic drug Propofol to help him sleep but that is a drug that never should be used outside of a hospital and always needs to be strictly monitored by medical experts who do not leave the room. Propofol (Diprivan) has a nickname of “milk of amnesia” due to its milky appearance and ability to immediately put someone deeply asleep. There were nearly a dozen bottles of Propofol around Jackson’s bedroom and Dr. Murray allegedly purchased gallons of the anesthetic in recent months preceding his Jackson’s death.
Dr. Murray’s defense attorney argues that Jackson self administered an assortment of drugs including alprazolam, sertraline, and hydrocodone and was dependent on Propofol to help him sleep due to severe insomnia problems.
Among the first witnesses for the prosecution, Alberto Alvarez a bodyguard for Jackson, stated when he entered the room he saw a lifeless Michael Jackson on the bed with Dr. Murray performing CPR as his patient lie on the bed. Any medical person knows that a solid surface needs to be beneath anyone who has CPR performed on them. Also Jackson had what is called a condom catheter which is used whenever a patient is heavily sedated and cannot go to the bathroom. It eliminates need for a catheter implant.
The prosecution lawyers have tried to convince the judge to sequester the members of the jury, stating this highly controversial trial will be so widely distributed that jurists will be “poisoned” by the coverage. But Judge Michael Pastor refused, referring it to an appeals court for the final decision. In the meantime the “trial of the century” has begun on September 27, 2011.
