LAPD Detective Scott Smith testifies about Murray's interview with detectives before it being played in courtroom - Day 9 -
LAPD Detective Scott Smith testified today about Murray's interview with the cops that was conducted on June 27, 2009 by Smith and another detective.
Smith testified that he found empty pill bottles of Diazepam and Lorazepam in the master bathroom -- which he called "messy."
On June 27th Smith and Det. Orlando Martinez met Murray and his lawyers - at their request - at the Ritz Carlton Marina del Ray.
Smith recorded the conversation which has been played in the courtroom.
After giving some biographical details, Murray is heard telling detectives how he met Michael Jackson and became his personal physician for a series of planned comeback concerts in London.
"Then I got a call from Jackson telling me how elated he was that I was going to join the trip," Murray said. He said there was no commitment yet, but indicated how impressed he was about the request.
"Michael Jackson asked me to be on his team. I was talking to Michael Jackson himself," Murray said.
Asked about the arrangements that were made, he said, "I was of the opinion he would be my employer directly." He said he later learned that the promoter of Jackson's concerts, AEG Live, would be paying his salary.
Testimony showed that Jackson had agreed to pay Murray $150,000 a month.
Murray tells the detectives that he first treated Jackson in 2006 in Las Vegas because Michael and his children were suffering from the flu.
The judge recessed proceedings for lunch just as Murray finishes explaining how Jackson's personal assistant contacted him because Jackson wanted him to accompany him to the London shows.
The recording has never been played in public before, nor have its exact contents been released.
During the interview, Murray admits his treatments on Jackson, including his administration of the anesthetic propofol.
Murray, who was accompanied by an attorney during the interview, told detectives that he had been trying to wean Jackson off propofol because he was afraid he was addicted.
He told the police he had given Jackson other sedatives, including lorazepam and midazolam, beetwen the night of June 24 and the morning of June 25, but that he couldn't fall asleep.
Detectives wrote that Murray told them he only left Jackson alone for a couple minutes when he returned around 11 a.m. on June 25, 2009 to find Michael had stopped breathing.
Murray's attorneys have disputed the police description of the timeline and say Murray returned to find Jackson unresponsive around noon.
In the interview, Murray also told detectives that other doctors had given Jackson propofol as a sleep aid in the past.
Murray also told police during the question-and-answer session where vials of propofol that remained in Jackson's rented mansion could be found.
Detectives tell Murray the recording will not be released even after the toxocology report is complete.
Detectives ask Murray if Michael Jackson was seeing any other doctors. Murray says he doesn't know.
Over the course of the interview, Murray told police that other doctors had given the anesthetic before.
Defense attorney Ed Chernoff told the detectives that Jackson was familiar with how the drug was administered through an IV and certain dosages. The coroner stated that was impossible for Michael Jackson self-administer propofol as the drug needs to be administered by another.
Murray told the detectives he took all possible precautions - keeping oxygen and a pulse monitoring machine nearby - and constantly warned Jackson that using propofol was an artificial way to sleep.
Prosecutors contend that Murray was reckless by giving Jackson propofol outside a hospital setting and without the proper monitoring equipment. Testimony showed that the pulse monitor machine used by Murray was the wrong model and that he would have had to know it.
Murray said Jackson told him before he agreed to be his personal physician that he might need help. Murray said Jackson told him that he expected to sleep for 15 to 18 hours at a time.
He said Jackson told him, "'You don't quite know or understand that these hours are long."
"I think, on you, it will be too much," Murray said. "What Mr. Jackson knew is this, is something he did every day."Murray said on he arrived at Michael Jackson's house at 12:50 am on June 25th. He went straight to Michael's room and waited for him.
Michael Jackson arrived at 1:05 am after his rehearsal saying he was tired and fatigued.
Murray then rubbed a cream on his body to treat his Vitiligo.
Murray said he gave Michael an IV in either his right or left leg, then gave him a 10 mg Valium pill.
Michael couldn't sleep so Murray gave him 2 mg Lorazepam IV.
Murray said Michael complained he still couldn't fall asleep so he gave him 2 mg of Midazolam around 2 am, about an hour after he gave him the Lorazepam.
After that didn't work Murray turned down the music and suggested meditation. He said Michael finally closed his eyes "reluctantly" and finally dozed off at around 3:15.
Michael woke up again at 4:00 am
At 4:30 Michael said, "I have to sleep Dr Conrad, I have to sleep."
Murray gave him another 2 mg of Lorazepam.
He was still wide awake by 7:30 am. Murray gave him another 2 mg of Midazolam, which again had no effect.
Michael said that he would have to cancel his tour if he would not be able to sleep.
According to Murray, Michael begged him for "milk." Murray finally agreed to give him 25 mg of Propofol around 10:40 am slowly infused over 3 to 4 minutes.
Murray said Michael finally fell asleep around 11.
He said the most he's ever given him was 50 mg, but he had to be cautious because he had given him other medications throughout the night.
He said he gave Michael Propofol every night for 30 days, except for 3 nights when he was trying to "wean him off".
Murray said he was surprised at how knowledgeable MJ was about the different pills and medications
He said he first heard Michael was using Propofol when Jackson called him asking him to help him get the drug. He gave him the number of another doctor who had it.
Murray said he was monitoring Michael long enough to feel comfortable.
That's when Murray says, he had to go to the bathroom.
He says he was gone for 2 minutes.
Click here to read the transcript
The full recording of Murray's interview will be played in courtroom on Tuesday, October 11, when the trail resumes at 8:45 AM PDT as on Monday is a court holiday (click here to read the transcript).
MJFS - source: cbsnews.com