Ok, So I know I have totally missed the boat in my coverage of the Trial of Conrad Murray. You would think I would have been more present in my discussion of this given that it causes me to be at least 10 minutes later in the morning with it's venue being in my backyard. #dtla baby!
Anyway, here are some major points to get you caught up if you haven't been paying attention.
So, the cast of this play are as follows:
- Defendant Conrad Murray, 58-year-old cardiologist, personal physician to Michael Jackson
- Judge Michael Pastor
- Prosecutor David Walgren (L.A. DA's office)
- Prosecutor Deborah Brazil (L.A. DA's office)
- Defense Attorney Edward Chernoff
- Defense Attorney Nareg Gourjian
- Defense Attorney Michael Flanagan
So far, Act I and II have gone something like this:
- Los Angeles County coroner ruled Michael Jackson died of "acute propofol intoxication."
- Conrad Murray is charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter. He could face four years in prison and lose his medical license.
- To convict on involuntary manslaughter, the district attorney must prove that Murray was recklessly doing something illegal (or doing something legal but in an illegal way) that was likely to and did in fact kill Michael Jackson. The DA does not need to show that Murray intended to kill Jackson, just that he acted recklessly.
- Legal experts say that administering the powerful anesthetic propofol in a home setting simply to fall asleep could definitely count as reckless and a gross violation of medical norms. Although propofol can legally be prescribed by most doctors, it's used in hospitals during surgeries or in rare cases to help dying hospice patients, but NOT to treat insomnia.
- Murray is contending that he left MJ alone for only 2 minutes for a bathroom break. Other experts have stated that MJ must have been alone for a longer period of time and that he must have injected himself with the fatal dose.
- Prosecutors contend Murray is criminally liable for Jackson's June 25, 2009 death because he recklessly administered the propofol, a potent surgical anesthetic drug, and was negligent in properly monitoring Jackson.
Conrad Murray has stated that he will not take the witness stand. If Murray decides not to take the stand then
closing arguments will probably take place tomorrow, Thursday. We may be very close to a resolution. FYI, The jury consists of seven men and five women. Six white, five Hispanic and one African American.
I will post more details as I get them.
