Criminal hearing begins for Conrad Murray

Prosecutors on Tuesday began laying out the case that they say will show the personal private doctor of Michael Jackson caused his death in 2009 by giving him a powerful anesthetic meant only for surgery and not telling the emergency doctors who eventually arrived that he had done so. 

Beyond that, they said in a preliminary hearing in criminal court Tuesday, Conrad Murray failed to call 911 quickly and performed inadequate CPR, using just one hand while Mr. Jackson was lying on a soft bed rather than a hard surface.

The lead prosecutor in the case, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren, said he would call dozens of witnesses over the next several days to show that there was more than enough evidence to charge Murray on involuntary manslaughter.

The maximum penalty provided for involuntary manslaughter is of four years in prison.

In his opening statement, Mr. Walgren said Mr. Jackson was dead in his home even before an ambulance arrived that afternoon.

“Michael Jackson was preparing for one of the most important tours of his life”, Mr. Walgren said. “He had begun serious rehearsals, and this was going to be a major world event, not only in the eyes of the public but also in the eyes of Michael Jackson”.

Several of Mr. Jackson’s family members, including his mother, Katherine, and his sister LaToya, crowded into the courtroom along with many fans.

Mr. Walgren said Murray had made it clear that he was administering the anesthetic propofol for two months, arriving at Mr. Jackson’s home around midnight and often staying through the night.

Lawyers for Murray declined to make an opening statement.

"After a rehearsal for his final tour, called “This Is It”, Mr. Jackson returned home on June 24, and Dr. Murray gave him several medications, including Valium", prosecutors said.

"Early the next morning, he also gave him propofol and apparently realized about an hour later that something was seriously wrong with Mr. Jackson".

"Rather than calling 911, Mr. Walgren said, Dr. Murray called Mr. Jackson’s private security officials. And when one arrived in the bedroom several minutes later, Dr. Murray instructed him to remove several vials from the bedroom before he eventually called for paramedics". "At best", prosecutors said, "Dr. Murray waited nine minutes before calling 911". "In a less favorable scenario", they said, "it took him more than 20 minutes after first learning that Mr. Jackson was not breathing to instruct someone to make the call".

“There were a number of actions displayed by Dr. Murray that showed an extreme deviation from standard medical care”, Mr. Walgren said.

"Michael Amir Williams, a personal assistant to Mr. Jackson for more than two years, said he received a “frantic” voice mail message from Dr. Murray at 12:13 p.m. on June 25. When Mr. Williams called back a minute later, he said, Murray, who had been hired for $150,000 a month, told him that Mr. Jackson had had a “bad reaction” and that immediate help was needed, although he did not instruct him to call 911. Mr. Williams then called two security guards on duty at Mr. Jackson’s home".

Kenny Ortega, a director and photographer who produced a documentary film based on rehearsals for the 2009 tour, was the first witness called by prosecutors. He told Judge Michael E. Pastor that Mr. Jackson had not seemed well enough to rehearse several days before his death.

“He appeared really lost”, Mr. Ortega said, adding that Mr. Jackson was withdrawn and had the chills. “It was scary. I couldn’t put my finger on it. I said, ‘Michael, is this the best place for you to be or do you want to go home and be with your family? ”.

"Mr. Jackson left soon after". The next day, Mr. Ortega was summoned to a meeting at Mr. Jackson’s home with several other top executives involved in the tour. Mr. Ortega testified that Dr. Murray scolded him for suggesting that Mr. Jackson return home. “He asked me not to act like a doctor or a psychologist and leave it to him”, Mr. Ortega said.

But a few days later, Mr. Jackson was back to “the Michael we all knew and loved,” Mr. Ortega said. “He was in a delightful mood, and we had an absolutely fantastic day”.

MJFS

Source: nytimes.com