Michael Jackson Found Deceased 6/25/09 -- Dr. Conrad Murray Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter

It's kind of weird the judge let Shafer give such a detailed demonstration of something theory he made up about what happened....but I thought the defense tore that up good today.

Conrad Murray's words may seal his fate
Whether he lied or told police the truth, Michael Jackson's physician is guilty, prosecutors say.


Dr. Conrad Murray, with defense attorney J. Michael Flanagan, left, listens in court Friday.
Legal experts said the prosecution’s case has left the defense with a big damage-control job.
(Reed Saxon / Pool photo / October 21, 2011)


By Harriet Ryan and Victoria Kim, Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles, CA

October 22, 2011

The prosecution's case against Michael Jackson's personal physician might be summarized this way: He lied about everything, but even if he told the truth, he's still guilty.

During a four-week case that rounded toward a conclusion Friday, prosecutors suggested that Dr. Conrad Murray's own words created a Catch-22 in which conviction was the only outcome possible. His statement to police, if taken by jurors at face value, contained enough admissions of gross negligence to amount to a manslaughter confession, prosecutors said.

Read more:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1022-conrad-murray-20111022,0,7127288.story

Conrad Murray trial expert called a 'scumbag' by witness & former colleague during testimony: report

BY Nancy Dillon
DAILY NEWS WEST COAST BUREAU CHIEF
NY Daily News - New York

Saturday, October 22nd 2011, 4:00 AM

LOS ANGELES - The trial of Michael Jackson's personal doctor took a bizarre turn Friday with an accusation that a key defense witness mumbled "scumbag" as his former colleague testified.

The judge set a Nov. 16 hearing to consider whether Dr. Paul White should be found in contempt of court for allegedly making the snide aside to a reporter for E! Entertainment Television on Thursday.

Read more:

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2011/10/22/2011-10-22_conrad_murray_trial_expert_called_a_scumbag_by_witness__former_colleague_during_.html




Dr. Paul White is accused of mumbling a snide remark while his former colleague, Dr. Steven Shafer (below), testified on Friday. Photo courtesy: Reed Saxon/Pool



Dr. Steven Shafer
Photo courtesy: Reed Saxon/Pool

And here we are all in a dither over this case while the codependents in the Anna Nicole Smith case still walk the streets...

I am multi-tasking in a big way today. However, I have amplified speakers plugged into my computer and the TV on and have been able to move around and still listen to the trial; watch ever so often.

The State has rested its case. The Defense tried to rattle Dr. Shafer and failed. After they tried to confuse the jury (and at times, I think they confused themselves), David Walgren poses additional questions to Dr. Shafer and cleared the waters!

Judge Pastor had to rein in Ed Chernoff several times during his questioning of Dr. Shafer. It appeared Judge Pastor was becoming irritated with Chernoff.

Prior to lunch, the Defense called two witnesses. Brief testimony. State did not cross examine. Witness 1 established time of 911 call (12:20); Witness 2 investigated video surveillance.

Trial will resume at 1:30 PDT.

Conrad Murray defense: D.A. drug expert’s theory ‘out of thin air’

October 24, 2011 | 12:32 pm PDT

Los Angeles Times - Los Angeles, CA


Dr. Steven Shafer

Prosecutors wrapped up their case in the manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson’s personal physician Monday with the testimony of a prominent anesthesiologist who said Dr. Conrad Murray’s account of what happened in the singer’s house was not supported by scientific evidence.

In his fifth day on the stand, Dr. Steven Shafer was grilled by a defense attorney on his earlier testimony on how much of the anesthetic propofol Murray could have given Jackson, and by what method.

Read more:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/10/conrad-murray-defense-da-drug-experts-theory-out-of-thin-air.html

Conrad Murray trial: Defense to begin its case

October 24, 2011 | 7:57 am PDT

Los Angeles Times - Los Angeles, CA

Dr. Conrad Murray's attorneys are expected to begin their case Monday, a task legal experts say will be a big damage-control job if they hope to keep Michael Jackson's physician from being convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

The prosecution's four-week case will wrap up after cross-examination and redirect of key medical witness Dr. Steven Shafer. Shafer has repeatedly attacked Murray's account of how Jackson died. The propofol expert testified that almost nothing about the quantity of drugs Murray said he administered matched up with what was later found in Jackson's blood.

He also maintained that Murray was at fault for abandoning his patient -- and for failing to say no to Jackson's demands.

Read more:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/10/conrad-murray-trial-defense-to-begin-its-case.html

Our friend Baez is on Jane VMitchell tonight..supposedly giving his 2 cents on this case.

Boy, JVM seems to be Jose's biggest supporter. She sure is praising him for the fabulous job she did for KC. She makes me as sick as Bozo does.

OMG, JVM is really stupid. She told Bozo she had to ask him a 'yes and no' question: "Do you know where KC is?" He responded with, "Yes I know." JVM repeated his answer as "Yes and no".

She didn't even understand what he had said.

I don't like JMV. I don't like Vinnie P. I don't like NG. I don't like Pierce what's his last name. I don't like Jean Casaraz nor Dr Drew and certainly not Geraldo R.

Who do you all like punditting this case?

Just like Bill Shaffer(sp?) said, NG and JVM are entertainment shows...Heaven only knows the laughs we have got from them...I no longer watch them...

Estee wrote:Just like Bill Shaffer(sp?) said, NG and JVM are entertainment shows...Heaven only knows the laughs we have got from them...I no longer watch them...

ITA with you Estee. I don't watch the NG show either, but I'm still laughing at her as she tries to dance on DWTS. Pitiful!

Today a few character witnesses testified for the Defense. The trial recessed for the day before lunch due to scheduling issues with a Defense witness. Trial will resume Thursday, 10-27-11, at 9 a.m. PDT.

I have to be out of town most of the day tomorrow so I have my recorder set to record InSession and HLN who are both streaming the trial live.

I am really looking forward to the testimony of Dr. Paul White. It will be very interesting to hear his testimony on behalf of Dr. Murray but especially his testimony on Propofol.

Needless to say, David Walgren, the Prosecutor who questioned the character witnesses on cross, scored big for the Prosecution!

Based on the questions Ed Chernoff, Defense Attorney, asked his witnesses, I felt it would have been more appropriate for these witnesses to testify in the Penalty Phase of the trial if Murray is found guilty.

The Defense might rest their case on Friday. I assume the Prosecution will put on a Rebuttal.

Perhaps one day next week, Judge Pastor will hand down the case to the jury for deliberations.

5 patients praise Michael Jackson's doctor

The witnesses from his Houston clinic and Las Vegas practice describe Dr. Conrad Murray as competent, thorough and caring. They say he would provide free care or help get medications for patients who couldn't pay.

By Victoria Kim and Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles, CA

October 27, 2011

The 82-year-old woman walked with a cane and had to be helped into the witness box, but once there, she was forceful in her defense of the doctor accused in Michael Jackson's death.

Read more:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-conrad-murray-20111027,0,4044841.story

He might be a very good doctor, but MJ's bedroom is not a pharmacy, yet the open access drugs in his room is nuts.

I realize not all of the drugs were via Murray...but if I were a doctor I would not have helped MJ one tiny bit so long as he had available drugs via some other doctor...and I would have made sure MJ did not have access to any drugs I didn't personally put in his mouth or vein...or up his butt in the case of propofol suppository.

It's not like it was a secret MJ was on tons of prescription meds...and it's not like it was a secret he was still complaining about pain from the Pepsi shoot burn and claiming he needed pain meds for that. He was an addict, plain and simple and he fired anyone who would not supply him....

Did Murray not give a shit and just wanted the money so he supplied MJ what he wanted? I don't think so...I think Murray really thought he could save MJ and wean him off his various addictions...and MJ wasn't having any of it and dosed himself when Murray left the room.

Well, we should see how this comes out soon! Last witness for defense is on the stand now.

I'm with you Lottie...From the witnesses that the defense put up, Dr. Murry WAS a caring individual...MJ was obviously an addict and thought he could go on foreva and just like Amy Winehouse and the rest of the uhfortunate addicts/alcoholics he overdid it...

You know, Estee...tonight the pundits were all "Murray should have admitted MJ to a hospital for detox when he saw how many drug prescriptions he had by other doctors"...and my eyes bug out as I go..."Dr Murray, nor anyone else- save a judge- could ORDER MJ into a hospital for detox! MJ is over 18!"

And just what do the pundits think MJ was going to say about that idea? He had How Many Tickets sold to that concert tour? I don't think MJ was in any mood to NOT do his shows. Going in for detox was not an option for MJ.

Actually, if you recall, MJ only signed up for a few shows (was it one? or two? I forget)...but they sold those tickets so fast the promotion company decided to sell more and more and more and MJ even said he didn't think he could do that many....the production company did not care, and in true MJ fashion he did not want to let his fans down so he agreed to do them all.

AND, that AIG guy testified that they had sat MJ down just a couple days before he died and complained that MJ was not 'focusing'...MJ swore he'd do it! He'd be ready! (bet that reminded him of his dad and getting beaten) Funny that Dr Murray had not been giving MJ propofol at that time and was weaning him off drugs...and I'd bet MJ was fine with it, until AIG bitched at him and made him afraid...this stress no doubt caused MJ to fear being unable to sleep even more...I think he was desperate to please! They want to talk about a cocktail/perfect storm, I think that's it....pressure to be vibrant all the time by AIG.

Last defense witness called in trial of Michael Jackson's doctor
By Alan Duke, CNN

updated 8:31 PM EST, Thu October 27, 2011


Los Angeles (CNN) -- Round two of the battle of the propofol experts started Thursday afternoon in the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor as the defense anesthesiology expert began his testimony.

When Dr. Paul White continues his testimony Friday, and he is expected to counter the conclusions of prosecution anesthesiologist Dr. Steven Shafer, whose earlier testimony spanned more than a week of Dr. Conrad Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial.

Read more and view additional videos to left of article:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/27/justice/california-conrad-murray-trial/?hpt=ju_c1

The Los Angeles Times has their morning article posted for 10-28-11.
~~~~~~~~

Witness says Jackson doctor's actions can't be justified

The defense questioning of its expert, a propofol researcher, suggests lawyers will concede that Dr. Conrad Murray's care was substandard but argue that it did not constitute involuntary manslaughter.

By Harriet Ryan and Victoria Kim, Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles, CA

October 28, 2011

The star medical expert for Michael Jackson's physician began his testimony Thursday with the acknowledgment that not even he could explain the doctor's treatment of the pop star.

"Let's deal with the elephant in the room here," a defense attorney said to Dr. Paul White, the most important and probably final witness for the physician. "Conrad Murray has been accused of infusing a dose of propofol and leaving his patient. Can you justify that?"

"Absolutely not," White replied.

The exchange was a strong indication the defense planned to concede that Murray provided substandard care to Jackson but argue that his conduct did not rise to the level of involuntary manslaughter.

Read more:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-conrad-murray-20111028,0,4110378.story