Guilty as Charged: Jury Delivers Verdict in Case of Michael Jackson’s Doctor
- Posted on November 7, 2011 at 3:56pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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LOS ANGELES (The Blaze/ AP) — Michael Jackson’s doctor was convicted Monday of involuntary manslaughter after a trial that painted him as a reckless caregiver who administered a lethal dose of a powerful anesthetic that killed the pop star.
The verdict against Dr. Conrad Murray marked the latest chapter in one of pop culture’s most shocking tragedies – the death of the King of Pop on the eve of the singer’s heavily promoted comeback concerts.
The jury deliberated less than nine hours. The Houston cardiologist, 58, faces a sentence of up to four years in prison. He could also lose his medical license.
Jackson died on June 25, 2009, and details of his final days dribbled out over several months.
The complete story, however, finally emerged during the six-week trial. It was the tale of a tormented genius on the brink of what might have been his greatest triumph with one impediment standing in his way – extreme insomnia.
Testimony came from medical experts, household employees and Murray’s former girlfriends, among others.
The most shocking moments, however, came when prosecutors displayed a large picture of Jackson’s gaunt, lifeless body on a hospital gurney and played the sound of his drugged, slurred voice, as recorded by Murray just weeks before the singer’s death.
Jackson talked about plans for a fantastic children’s hospital and his hope of cementing a legacy larger than that of Elvis Presley or The Beatles.
“We have to be phenomenal,“ he said about his ”This Is It” concerts in London. “When people leave this show, when people leave my show, I want them to say, `I’ve never seen nothing like this in my life. Go. Go. I’ve never seen nothing like this. Go. It’s amazing. He’s the greatest entertainer in the world.’”
Throughout the trial, Jackson family members watched from the spectator gallery, fans gathered outside with signs and T-shirts demanding, “Justice for Michael,” and an international press corps broadcast reports around the world. The trial was televised and streamed on the Internet.
Prosecutors portrayed Murray as an incompetent doctor who used the anesthetic propofol without adequate safeguards and whose neglect left Jackson abandoned as he lay dying.
Murray’s lawyers sought to show the doctor was a medical angel of mercy with former patients vouching for his skills. Murray told police from the outset that he gave Jackson propofol and other sedatives as the star struggled for sleep to prepare for his shows. But the doctor said he administered only a small dose on the day Jackson died.
Lawyers for Murray and a defense expert blamed Jackson for his own death, saying the singer gave himself the fatal dose of propofol while Murray wasn’t watching. A prosecution expert said that theory was crazy.
Murray said he had formed a close friendship with Jackson, never meant to harm him and couldn’t explain why he died.
The circumstances of Jackson‘s death at the age of 50 were as bizarre as any chapter in the superstar’s sensational life story.
Jackson was found not breathing in his own bed in his rented mansion after being dosed intravenously with propofol, a drug normally administered in hospitals during surgery.
The coroner ruled the case a homicide and the blame would fall to the last person who had seen Jackson alive – Murray, who had been hired to care for the singer as the comeback concerts neared.
Craving sleep, Jackson had searched for a doctor who would give him the intravenous anesthetic that Jackson called his “milk” and believed to be his salvation. Other medical professionals turned him down, according to trial testimony.
Murray gave up his practices in Houston and Las Vegas and agreed to travel with Jackson and work as his personal physician indefinitely.
For six weeks, as Jackson undertook strenuous rehearsals, Murray infused him with propofol every night, the doctor told police. He later tried to wean Jackson from the drug because he feared he was becoming addicted.
Jackson planned to pay Murray $150,000 a month for an extended tour in Europe. In the end, the doctor was never paid a penny because Jackson died before signing the contract.
During the last 24 hours of his life, Jackson sang and danced at a spirited rehearsal, reveling in the adulation of fans who greeted him outside. Then came a night of horror, chasing sleep – the most elusive treasure the millionaire entertainer could not buy.
Testimony showed Murray gave Jackson intravenous doses that night of the sedatives lorazepam and midazolam. Jackson also took a Valium pill. But nothing seemed to bring sleep.
Finally, Murray told police, he gave the singer a small dose of propofol – 25 milligrams – that seemed to put him to sleep. The doctor said he felt it was safe to leave his patient’s bedside for a few minutes, but Jackson was not breathing when he returned.
Witnesses said he was most likely dead at that point.
What happened next was a matter of dispute during the trial. Security and household staff described Murray as panicked, never calling 911 but trying to give Jackson CPR on his bed instead of the firm floor.
A guard said Murray was concerned with packing up and hiding medicine bottles and IV equipment before telling him to call 911. Prosecutors said Murray was distracted while Jackson was sedated, citing Murray’s cell phone records to show he made numerous calls.
Authorities never accused Murray of intending to kill the star, and it took eight months for them to file the involuntary manslaughter charge against him. It was the lowest possible felony charge involving a homicide.
There was no law against administering propofol or the other sedatives. But prosecution expert witnesses said Murray was acting well below the standard of care required of a physician.
They said using propofol in a home setting without lifesaving equipment on hand was an egregious deviation from that standard. They called it gross negligence, the legal basis for an involuntary manslaughter charge.
The defense team countered with its own expert who presented calculations suggesting that Jackson gave himself the fatal dose.
In closing arguments, the prosecutor said the mystery of what happened behind the closed doors of Jackson’s bedroom on the fatal day probably would never be solved.
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Comments (61)
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 5:22pmMaybe, as a punishment, he can become Michael Moore’s doctor, or Alex Baldwin, or Skinead O’Connor, etc.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 7:00pmMicheal jerkwad killed himself over the course of forty years, but remember he had to rape all those little boys because ““ i never had a childhood”” in high pitch voice…… Fu€£ him i hope thatpedophile sicko rots in hell, conrad murray was just a broke doctor who was easily bought and paid for……..
Report Post »Kalish
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 7:47pmI saw a lot of black people outside the courtroom who had signs that said murray was a murderer, funny that were not saying that about O.J. ?
Report Post »rangerp
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 8:37pmdid anyone expect anything else? It is one of the few times you will see the MSM line up to find a black man guilty.
The evil empire known as MTV was built on the back of M Jackson. It is bad enough that everyone knows he molested children, adopted 100% white kids, and bleached himself and cut of his nose, trying to look like a white women. People in high places put big money on the table to make sure he did not also go down in history as killing himself. We would not want him in the same class as Elvis, Joplin, Hendrix, Morison……. and half the rest of the degenerates in the world of rock music.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 9:49pmI hope he gets the max years in prison and the max fine and, mostly, loses his license. He is a disgrace to the profession. He’s just another person who “enabled” Jackson’s self-destruction, but he put the final nail in the coffin.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 5:21pmMJ had talent. Too bad he had so many enablers and nobody to tell him to stop with the freakiness.
Report Post »I doubt his children inherited any of it. They will ride daddy’s coat tails for life.
This doctor should have known better than to pile propofol on top of lorazepam and midazolam. Lorazepam does little for me, but my dosage may be lower than what MJ was given.
hauschild
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 5:15pmRidiculous verdict from idiotic lemmings.
Why are some hell-bent on taking away all individual responsibility? Nobody forced that freak to take dope like it was going outta style.
I’m sure this doctor is shady, but finding him guilty of a death that was imminent anyway is disappointing.
Report Post »MaryRI
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 5:07pmMPry
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:24pm
Exactly! He’s just the unlucky sucker who happened to be the Dr. when the Freak died.
Report Post »~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
you put a lot nicer that I would of……thanks
okfine
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 5:18pmI think Murray is innocent & OJ is guilty. Just sayin’!!
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 5:06pmEeeeeeeeeeeeeee….. Heeeeeeeeeee!
Report Post »floridacockleburr
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 5:01pmThis verdict was assured from the beginning. After all Jackson was the “victim” not the defendant.
Report Post »Dahart
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:59pmFunny how they blame everybody but Miichael!
Report Post »hollowpoint
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:55pmAs others of you have said, Jackson killed himself. And if it wasn’t this doctor it would have been another. The rich and famous have no problem finding drugs or docs to give it to them. He has been a freak case even before he was white! His family did this to get their hands on some money because Michael supported all of them except the girls. His dad is a loser and so is his mom. And as far as the kids are concerned, they aren‘t even his for Pete’s sake!! Maybe now they can use their inheritance to get DNA tests to find out who they really belong to. They sure don’t look like anyone in the family. I guess what I am saying is…..who cares about Michael or his stupid family? I think the doctor got “jacked”….(lol.)
Report Post »Centralsville
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:53pmI knew this doctor was going down. The message is clear to Doctors out there, don’t be a drug pusher to the stars. These freaks will take you down with them.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:50pmWho cares? Who cares about the Jacksons including Michael….and…who cares about the idiot doctor? This is just mind-candy for idiots who think “stars”are “sooooooo great”.
Report Post »flyoverbob
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:43pmCheering for a freak and sexual deviate,what a bunch of dolts.I feel sorry for the children of these idiots.
Report Post »YoungBloodNews
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:39pmReally, who cares?!?
Keeps the masses distracted I guess…
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:47pmthat is true…
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:37pmLet‘s see if he’s gonna be released for overcrowding too .
Report Post »countryfirst
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:37pmThe doctor was paid handsomely, greed with enabling became his priority. And now he is the fall guy. I just hope in 20 years MJ’s children will not be in the same situation as their father. There is more than one victim here.
Report Post »okfine
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 5:13pmYa know there, MJ died B4 he signed the contract to pay the Dr. the big bucks. That’s the last thing Murray wanted to happen. I think the Dr. is innocent & OJ is guilty!!
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:34pm.
Report Post »Tito, get me a tissue………
scott2012
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:33pmThey should make him the “Doctor to the Stars”!
Report Post »mils
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 7:18pmYeah. they could make him Alec Baldwin’s doctor
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THE JACKSONS ARE A VERY TROUBLED FAMILY.
The dr should have walked away earlier…but money, fame, the easy life is a strong draw..
No, I DON’T think he should have his license taken away. He only did what he was hired to do..administer drugs ..as much as the patient wanted..
Report Post »He was basically a scapegoat used to keep Michael on feet and making money…:(
Harry Assenback
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:30pmI’m just going to take some Propofol and go to bed……..Signed-Conrad Murray.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:25pmYawn…. One whacked out, drug-addicted pedophile is still dead. So what’s the problem?
Report Post »Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 5:01pmJackson was never proven to be a pedophile and when a charge actually went to court, Jackson won. I wonder if you post that comment here and then click on another thread and defend Herman Cain?
The Tea Party is a lynch mob anyway. All they need is an accusation to be convinced unless the accusation is against their guy. Then, of course, it’s obviously false.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 7:03pmYeah, and I’ll bet if you have kids, especially little boys, you would have had NO PROBLEM allowing them to sleep over at Whacko Jacko’s place, would you? Then again, idiot libs such as yourself will defend these perverts with your dying breath. Do you share the same feelings for young boys as he did….? That would explain one part of your deviant POV…..
Report Post »LOJ
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:23pmListening to Hannity and hear Dr. Murray pronounced guilty…He didn’t pull the trigger, but he should have been telling Jackson Propafal is an anesthesia…It is very strong and Can and will put you to sleep forever as it did with MJ. This drug should never be used as a sleeping med without equipment and drugs to revive the individual..
Report Post »robbiehawk
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:23pmIf it wasn’t this doctor it would have been another. If it wasn’t on that particular day it would have been another that MJ overdosed on something.
Report Post »robbiehawk
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:23pmSorry double post.
Report Post »robbiehawk
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:20pmIf it wasn’t this doctor it would have been someone else, and if it wasn’t that day it would have been another day that MJ overdosed on something.
Report Post »MPry
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:24pmExactly! He’s just the unlucky sucker who happened to be the Dr. when the Freak died.
Report Post »Wyld_goose
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:19pmEven in death M.J. never has to take any responsibility. ridiculous!
Report Post »korbin
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:25pmHe died? he took responsibility. He was a freak though.
Report Post »TXVET48
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:42pmThe doctor’s just a scapegoat. MJ was whacked out most of the time and did himself in. Whether it was accidental or not, doesn’t matter.
Report Post »korbin
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:16pmWho cares. We are all going to die. Mr jackson took responsibility, he slammed proposal, some slam heroin like my oldest brother and my next to oldest died of patches fetynol. I haven’t figured out how I am going out but I hope its not from dope. triple back flip on my crf450? that would be sweet.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:15pmGod Bless the Jury and honor them on Veteran’s Day.
TEA
Report Post »chips1
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:14pmJackson was a drug freak years before the DR. was involved. Michael killed himself and there’s more singers out there to take his place. Hope the next one doesn’t molest children.
Report Post »brotherjohn
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:22pmHe had been killing himself slowly for years. This was the final straw.
Report Post »Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 5:45pmThere was never any evidence that Jackson molested kids, only accusations. The one time it went to court, Jackson won. Idiot.
Report Post »