OPENING STATEMENTS BEGIN IN MJ TRIAL

[JumpinJack AJ]

Opening statements begin in Jackson doc's trial

Updated: Sep 27, 2011 - 13:15PM


Anthony MccartneyAP
LOS ANGELES -Opening statements began Tuesday in the trial of the doctor accused of killing Michael Jackson, with a prosecutor saying the superstar's misplaced trust in the doctor led to his death.

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren showed jurors a slide of Jackson on a gurney and said he would detail what happened in the final hours of the singer's life, from the time he left rehearsals to the time that paramedics were summoned to his rented mansion.

Jackson died of an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol.

"What happened during that time frame is that the acts and omissions of Michael Jackson's personal doctor Conrad Murray directly led to his premature death at age 50."

He said Jackson trusted Murray as his physician.

"That misplaced trust in Conrad Murray cost Michael Jackson his life," Walgren said.

Testimony was expected to begin later in the day.

A number of Jackson's family members were in the courthouse, including his father Joseph, mother Katherine, sisters LaToya and Janet, and brothers Jermaine, Randy and Tito.

LaToya Jackson carried a sunflower, Michael's favorite flower.

Murray arrived holding hands with his mother.

Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and he and his attorneys have denied he gave Jackson anything that should have killed the pop superstar.

The trial opened with a bit of star power and the one thing the King of Pop enjoyed throughout his life — a worldwide audience.

Proceedings will be televised and broadcast online. More than a dozen satellite trucks and news vans were parked within a block of the courthouse.

Much of the testimony will focus on propofol, which is normally administered in hospital settings. Authorities contend Murray administered a lethal dose of the drug along with other sedatives, and lacked the proper lifesaving equipment to revive Jackson.

Defense attorneys will present an alternate theory — that Jackson ingested or somehow gave himself the fatal dose.

While much is known about Jackson's June 2009 death, the trial will reveal new information and provide a detailed record of the singer's final hours. Murray's trial is expected to be the first time that the public hears — in the defendant's own words — his account of what happened in the bedroom of Jackson's rented mansion.

Prosecutors plan to call the pop superstar's friend and choreographer, Kenny Ortega, as their first witness in the case.

Defense attorneys for Murray, who could face four years in prison and the loss of his medical license if convicted of involuntary manslaughter, hope to poke holes in the prosecution's case and present jurors with their own theory that the singer was culpable for his own death.

Ortega testified at a hearing earlier this year that Murray warned him not to try to act as Jackson's physician or psychiatrist after Ortega sent the singer home from rehearsals for his final concerts because he appeared to be sick. He is also likely the best witness to walk jurors through footage of Jackson's final rehearsals that were used for the film "This Is It," which will be played in part for jurors. Ortega served as choreographer for the aborted shows and director of the theatrical film.

For most of the jury, it will be their first exposure to the footage. Only two indicated on questionnaires filled out before the trial that they had seen any portion of "This Is It."

Prosecutors plan to play a recording of the physician's interview with police conducted two days after Jackson's death, when he revealed that he had been giving the entertainer the anesthetic propofol as a sleep aid. The disclosure led to Murray being charged in February 2010 and nearly 20 months of legal wrangling over how the trial will be conducted.

Witnesses' recollections and conclusions about the events will be challenged to a far greater extent than they were during a preliminary hearing earlier this year that resulted in a judge ruling there was enough evidence for Murray to stand trial. Defense attorneys did not present a case or make an opening statement during that hearing, but lead defense attorney Ed Chernoff is expected to lay out Murray's side to jurors on Tuesday.

Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor has limited what Murray's lawyers can say about Jackson's history with drugs and his financial troubles. Prosecutors are similarly prohibited from mentioning some of the messy details of the doctor's personal life, including his sizeable debts and that he had several mistresses.—

AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report.—

[JumpinJack AJ]

Conrad Murray's Attorney Says Michael Jackson Administered Deadly Drug Dose Himself



LINDA DEUTSCH and ANTHONY McCARTNEY 09/27/11 09:26 PM ET



LOS ANGELES — First, prosecutors showed a photo of Michael Jackson's pale and lifeless body lying on a gurney. Then, they played a recording of his voice, just weeks before his death.
Slow and slurred, his words echoed Tuesday through a Los Angeles courtroom at the start of the trial of the doctor accused of killing him. As a worldwide audience watched on TV and Jackson's family looked on from inside the courtroom, a drugged Jackson said:
"We have to be phenomenal. 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.'"
Prosecutors played the audio for the first time during opening statements as they portrayed Dr. Conrad Murray, 58, as an incompetent physician who used a dangerous anesthetic without adequate safeguards and whose neglect left the superstar abandoned as he lay dying.
Defense attorneys countered that Jackson caused his own death by taking a drug dose, including propofol, after Murray left the room.
Nothing the cardiologist could have done would have saved the King of Pop, defense attorney Ed Chernoff told jurors, because Jackson was desperate to regain his fame and needed rest to prepare for a series of crucial comeback concerts.
A number of Jackson's family members were in the courthouse, including his father Joseph, mother Katherine, sisters LaToya and Janet, and brothers Jermaine, Randy and Tito. LaToya Jackson carried a sunflower, her brother's favorite flower.
The family's most emotional moment came when the prosecutor played a video excerpt from Jackson's "This Is It" rehearsal in which he sang "Earth Song," a plea for better treatment of the environment.
As Jackson sang the words, "I used to dream. I used to glance beyond the stars," his mother, Katherine, dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.

Prosecutor David Walgren noted it was Jackson's last performance.
Murray, who arrived at court holding hands with his mother, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter. If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison and the loss of his medical license.
Speaking for more than an hour, Walgren relied on photos and audio recordings to paint Murray as an inept and reckless caretaker.
Walgren showed a photo of a lifeless Jackson on a hospital gurney. He juxtaposed the image with those of Jackson performing. Walgren also played the recording of Jackson speaking to Murray while, the prosecutor said, the singer was under the influence of an unknown substance roughly six weeks before his death.
The prosecutor said that Murray recorded the conversation with his groggy patient on his cell phone.
Jackson trusted Murray as his physician, and "that misplaced trust in Conrad Murray cost Michael Jackson his life," Walgren said.
The recurring theme was Jackson's never-ending quest for sleep and propofol, the potion he called his "milk" and that he believed was the answer. Jurors were told that it was a powerful anesthetic, not a sleep aid, and the prosecutor said Murray severely misused it.
The prosecutor said while working for Jackson, the doctor was shipped more than four gallons of the anesthetic, which is normally given in hospital settings.
Chernoff, the defense attorney, claimed the singer swallowed several pills of the sedative lorazepam on the morning of his death and that was enough to put six people to sleep. After taking a self-administered dose of propofol, Jackson did not even have a chance to close his eyes, Chernoff said, claiming he died instantly.
Chernoff, who had long hinted that the defense would blame Jackson for his own death, added a surprise. He claimed that Jackson died not because his doctor continued to give him the drug but because he stopped it, forcing Jackson to take extreme measures.
"What we will hear is that Dr. Murray provided propofol for two months to Michael Jackson for sleep," Chernoff said. "During those two months, Michael Jackson slept. He woke up and he lived his life.
"The evidence will not show you that Michael Jackson died because Dr. Murray gave him propofol. The evidence is going to show you Michael Jackson died when Dr. Murray stopped," the attorney said.
He said Murray was trying to wean Jackson off of propofol and had been giving him other sleep aids known as benzodiazepines trying to lull him to sleep.
On June 25, 2009, the last day of Jackson's life, Chernoff said, he was in the third day of a weaning process and it didn't work.
"Michael Jackson started begging. He couldn't understand why he wasn't sleeping.... When Michael Jackson told Dr. Murray `I have to sleep. They will cancel my performance,' he meant it," Chernoff said.
Murray, in a recording of his interview with police detectives, acknowledged that he relented and agreed to give Jackson a small dose of propofol.
Walgren said Murray's claim that he gave the singer a minuscule dosage, enough to keep him asleep perhaps five minutes, was not true. He also accused Murray of deception when he hid from paramedics and hospital emergency staff that he had given Jackson propofol. He said they were desperately trying to revive him but didn't know about the drug.
He returned repeatedly to the fee Murray was to be paid – $150,000 a month – and pointed out that he first had asked for $5 million.
"There was no doctor-patient relationship," Walgren said. "... What existed here was an employer-employee relationship. He was not working for the health of Michael Jackson. Dr. Murray was working for a fee of $150,000."
Chernoff countered with a description of Murray's history of treating indigent patients for free. At times during the defense attorney's opening statements, Murray appeared to be crying and wiped his eyes with a tissue.
Jackson's family members appeared pained as Walgren described the singer as a vulnerable figure, left alone with drugs coursing through his body.
"It violates not only the standard of care but the decency of one human being to another," he said. "Dr. Murray abandoned Michael when he needed help."
Following opening statements, Jackson's choreographer and friend, Kenny Ortega, testified that Jackson was in bad shape physically and mentally less than a week before his death.
He said he sent a message to Randy Phillips, producer of the "This Is It" concert, telling him that Jackson was ill, probably should have a psychological evaluation and was not ready to perform.
"It's important for everyone to know he really wants this," he wrote. "It would shatter him, break his heart if we pulled the plug. He's terribly frightened it's all going to go away."
In response to the email, Ortega said, a meeting was called at Jackson's house where Ortega clashed with Murray, who told him to stop playing amateur psychiatrist and doctor.
"He said Michael was physically and emotionally capable of handling all his responsibilities for the show,'" said Ortega, "I was shocked. Michael didn't seem to be physically or emotionally stable."
Within a few days, he said, Jackson had recouped his energy and was full of enthusiasm for the show.
During the defense opening statement, Chernoff referred to Dr. Arnold Klein, Jackson's dermatologist, who the judge decided will not testify.
The attorney tried to blame Klein for some of Jackson's woes, saying Klein gave Jackson the painkiller Demerol and he became addicted to it.
He told jurors that Klein would not be testifying but his records would be available and an addiction specialist would testify that one of the side effects of Demerol withdrawal is trouble sleeping. Chernoff said Murray was unaware of a Demerol shot administered to Jackson on June 16 and thus didn't realize there could be a fatal interaction with propofol.
Klein's attorney, Garo Ghazarian, later in the day issued a statement calling the allegations preposterous and "merely an attempt to whitewash the facts surrounding the death of ... Michael Jackson while under the management of Dr. Conrad Murray."
He noted there were no traces of Demerol in Jackson's autopsy or in his home, indicating he was not addicted. He also said Klein's use of the drug was not excessive. He noted that Klein was cleared by authorities of any wrongdoing in Jackson's death.

[JumpinJack AJ]

Lawyer says Jackson doctor sought CPR machine

Updated: Sep 28, 2011 - 13:06PM

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Linda Deutsch And Anthony MccartneyAP
LOS ANGELES -An attorney for the promoter of Michael Jackson's final concerts says the singer's personal physician requested life-saving equipment just days before the pop superstar's death.

Kathy Jorrie, who works for concert giant AEG Live, testified Wednesday at the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray that she questioned some of the doctor's requests, which included the possibility of hiring a second doctor to assist him.

Jorrie says Murray told her that Jackson was "perfectly healthy" and in excellent condition in the days before Jackson's death.

She says Murray asked for a CPR machine in case one wasn't available at the concert venue at London's O2 arena.

Murray has pleaded not guilty.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Two days before he died, Michael Jackson appeared strong during one of the final rehearsals for his highly anticipated comeback concerts, a promoter told jurors Wednesday as the involuntary manslaughter trial of the pop superstar's physician entered its second day.

Paul Gongaware, an executive for AEG Live, said Jackson appeared engaged and energetic during the session.

Prosecutors called Gongaware to show the importance of Jackson's comeback concerts and in an apparent attempt to show that both the singer and his physician were deeply engaged in preparations for the show before Jackson died on June 25, 2009.

Gongaware also testified that he saw Dr. Conrad Murray at one of Jackson's rehearsals after people affiliated with the planned concerts complained that the singer had been missing some of the sessions.

Prosecutors wrapped up their direct questioning of Gongaware before defense attorney Ed Chernoff briefly questioned the executive.

Under the cross-examination, Gongaware acknowledged the concert giant is being sued by Jackson's mother for negligent supervision of defendant Murray when he worked with Jackson.

Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson's death.

Prosecutors allege Murray caused Jackson's death by providing him with a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives without the proper lifesaving equipment or skills.

Another AEG employee, attorney Kathy Jorrie, testified about drafting a contract for Murray to work as Jackson's personal physician.

At one point in negotiations, Murray requested his contract be modified to allow him to hire another physician in case he was tired or unavailable while Jackson was performing in London, she testified.

"He wanted to make sure that there was somebody else available to be of assistance," Jarrie said.

Prosecutors also planned to call one of Jackson's bodyguards and his personal assistant, who Murray frantically called after he found the singer unconscious.

In opening statements Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said Murray delayed summoning emergency crews and lied to doctors and medics when he failed to reveal he had been giving Jackson the medications to try to help the entertainer sleep.

Chernoff claimed Jackson gave himself a fatal dose of medication in a desperate attempt to get some sleep.

He said Murray had been trying to wean Jackson off propofol, but the entertainer kept requesting it on the day he died.

"Michael Jackson started begging," Chernoff said. "When Michael Jackson told Dr. Murray, `I have to sleep. They will cancel my performance,' he meant it."

He told jurors that Jackson swallowed enough of the sedative lorazepam to put six people to sleep before ingesting propofol. The combination, which Chernoff called a "perfect storm" of medications, killed Jackson so quickly that he didn't even have chance to close his eyes.

Prosecutors rejected Murray's version and told jurors the Houston-based cardiologist also had a tremendous stake in Jackson appearing in the concerts.

The doctor had initially asked to be paid $5 million a year for working with Jackson, but Gongaware said he immediately rejected the proposal. Instead, Murray accepted an offer to become Jackson's doctor for $150,000 a month — a sum he was never paid because his contract hadn't been signed before Jackson's death.

If convicted, Murray could face up to four years in prison and have to relinquish his medical license.—

[JumpinJack AJ]

Jackson bodyguard takes stand in manslaughter case

Updated: Sep 29, 2011 - 11:59AM
Anthony Mccartney

LOS ANGELES -A bodyguard who was the first person to reach Michael Jackson's bedroom after his doctor urgently called for help is testifying at the doctor's trial.

Alberto Alvarez was expected to testify Thursday about Dr. Conrad Murray's actions, including his claim that the physician told him to stash vials of medicine before calling 911.

Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson's death.

Prosecutors have been calling witnesses who were with Jackson and Murray the day the singer died on June 25, 2009.

Another bodyguard told jurors on Wednesday that Jackson appeared to be dead by the time he arrived.

Authorities accuse Murray of giving Jackson a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol in the bedroom.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Prosecutors are calling a key witness Thursday in an attempt to show jurors that Michael Jackson's doctor delayed calling authorities on the day the King of Pop was found lifeless and was intent on concealing indications that he had been giving the singer doses of a surgical anesthetic.

As the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray enters its third day, testimony will keep jurors focused on events in Jackson's bedroom during the frantic moments when efforts were made to revive the unresponsive pop superstar.

The panel has already gotten a glimpse into the entertainer's inner sanctum through photos and testimony. On Thursday, they will hear from the first bodyguard to reach the room after Murray summoned for help.

In testimony during a preliminary hearing earlier this year, Alberto Alvarez said Murray ordered him to stash away vials of medicine and an IV bag before calling 911. Jackson, his eyes and mouth open, appeared to be dead, he said.

The bodyguard's testimony is crucial to prosecutors' contentions that Murray delayed calling 911 and was intent on covering up evidence that he had given Jackson propofol in his bedroom, a far different environment than the surgical settings where it is normally administered.

Alvarez's testimony will likely be challenged by Murray's defense attorneys, who on Wednesday questioned Jackson's head of security and the singer's personal assistant about why they didn't reveal certain details about the day Jackson died to police for at least two months. Defense lawyer Ed Chernoff asked Faheem Muhammad and Michael Amir Williams about whether they conferred with Alvarez before their interviews with detectives.

Williams, who was Jackson's personal assistant, said his interview with detectives had been delayed. He testified Wednesday that he received an urgent phone call from Murray on the day of Jackson's death but wasn't told to call 911. He called Muhammad, who then dispatched Alvarez to Jackson's bedroom on the second floor of the singer's rented mansion in the ritzy Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The room was off-limits to Jackson's staff, and Muhammad paused before racing up the stairs after reaching the mansion just before paramedics arrived.

He described a heart-wrenching scene. By then, he said, Jackson had been removed from his bed and was on the floor, where Murray, sweaty and frantic, was performing CPR.

Alvarez was pacing nervously, Muhammad told the jury. When he saw Jackson up close, he understood why.

"What did you observe about his face," prosecutor David Walgren asked

"That his eyes were open," Muhammad said. "That his mouth was slightly open."

"Did he appear to be dead," Walgren asked.

"Yes."

The bodyguard soon noticed that Jackson's children, Prince and Paris, had gathered by the doorway.

"Paris was on the ground, balled up crying," Muhammad said. He ushered the children out of the room, and then into a sport utility vehicle so they could follow the ambulance to the hospital.

Paparazzi were already swarming the perimeter of the mansion and were waiting at the hospital, Muhammad recalled.

Some of the scenes recounted by Muhammad will likely be repeated Thursday as prosecutors work to fill in other details about Murray's behavior after finding Jackson unconscious. Also expected to testify on Thursday are Kai Chase, a chef who spoke to Murray briefly on the morning of Jackson's death, and paramedics who also tried to revive the singer. The medics believed Jackson was already dead by the time they arrived, but Murray insisted the performer be taken to a hospital for additional resuscitation efforts.

Prosecutors contend Murray did not tell any of the bodyguards or emergency personnel that he had been giving Jackson propofol and other sedatives to help him sleep.

Chernoff claimed in opening statements that Jackson gave himself the lethal dose.

Much of the trial in later sessions will focus on the science of what killed Jackson, and dueling theories of Murray's role.

For at least another day, jurors will hear from witnesses who knew him when he was alive.—

[JumpinJack AJ]

Conrad Murray Guilty: Jurors Find Doctor Responsible For Michael Jackson's Death



First Posted: 11/7/11 02:35 PM ET Updated: 11/7/11 06:02 PM ET

LOS ANGELES -- UPDATE: 4:18 p.m. -- Dr. Conrad Murray, the former personal physician of Michael Jackson, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the King of Pop's 2009 death.
California jurors delivered their verdict to a stone-faced Murray on Monday after deliberating for ten hours.
The jury of seven men and five women concluded that the evidence was sufficient beyond any reasonable doubt that Murray caused the sleep-deprived singer's death.
On the ground, John Smith, 60, followed the trial for 33 days outside. "I never thought he would go on to be this huge," he said. "Mike was loved for his human rights, charity and music. Conrad Murray is going to be found guilty."

Kimberly Binion stood outside the courthouse holding a photo of herself and Michael Jackson from when they were both teens. She has been following the trial since it began and this is her first day outside to hear the verdict. "I think that Conrad Murray should get second-degree murder. Manslaughter is not enough," she told HuffPost.
The judge has ordered jurors' personal information sealed.
Before the verdict was read, crowds outside the courthouse were chanting "Guilty, guilty, guilty" and "This is it, this is it" -- not only signaling the resolution of a lengthy investigation, but recalling the name of the tour Jackson was working on at the time of his death.
Murray has been remanded without bail, and scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 29.
After the verdict was read, Julia Thomas, 39, burst into tears outside. She has been coming to courthouse for two years and has held protests outside Murray’s apartment. "I'm just overwhelmed. He was a great soul and a great humanitarian. Now there is justice for his children, family and for him," she said of Jackson.
Jamie Khawaja, also standing outside the courtyard, told HuffPost of feeling "an overwhelming feeling of jubilation and excitement. Conrad Murray has set an example for other doctors who are treating celebrities. He did not get away with it and now nobody else will either."
Murray faces a sentence ranging from probation to four years in prison, according to the Associated Press.
* * * * *
Previously:
The jury deliberating the fate of the former personal physician of Michael Jackson has reached a verdict in the case, as California jurors buzzed three times from the deliberation room Monday morning.
The jury of seven men and five women is expected to reveal at 4 p.m. Eastern Time whether Dr. Conrad Murray is guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the King of Pop's 2009 death.

• Final Prosecution Witness Says Self-Dosage 'Extremely Unlikely'
• Michael Jackson Was 'Addicted To Pain Killer' Before He Died
• Murray Police Interview So Graphic, Jackson Sister Leaves Courtroom
• Twitter Reactions To The Verdict
• Remembering Michael Jackson
• More Michael Jackson Coverage
  

Jackson died at his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles on June 25, 2009. Jackson was preparing for a series of 50 shows in London for his career comeback tour entitled "This Is It" when he suffered cardiac arrest.
According to the Los Angeles County coroner, Jackson's death was caused by "acute propofol intoxication" in combination with two anti-anxiety benzodiazepines: lorazepam and midazolam.
The prosecution insisted that Murray, Jackson’s $150,000-a-month private doctor, was reckless for using a surgical anesthetic to treat Jackson's insomnia and was therefore criminally negligent.
Murray acknowledged giving the 50-year-old singer propofol as a sleep aid but denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
During opening statements, Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney David Walgren told jurors that the pop star "literally put his life in the hands of Dr. Conrad Murray." Walgren added, "That misplaced trust in the hands of Conrad Murray cost Michael Jackson his life."
Murray's defense counsel contended Jackson was so desperate for sleep that he administered the fatal doses of propofol and sedatives to himself when Murray was not watching.
"When Dr. Murray left the room, Michael Jackson self-administered a dose of propofol that, with the lorazepam, created a perfect storm in his body that killed him instantly. The whole thing is tragic, but the evidence is not that Dr. Murray did it," Murray's attorney, Edward Chernoff, said during the trial.
Prosecutors said it made no difference who administered the drugs since it was Murray who brought them into the bedroom and left Jackson alone with them.
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Murray declined to take the stand in his own defense.
"My decision is that I will not testify in this matter," Murray told presiding Judge Michael E. Pastor.
The jury's verdict followed 22 days of testimony from Jackson's employees, paramedics, doctors, investigators, medical experts and a number of Murray's girlfriends and patients.
Murray faces up to four years in prison and the loss of his medical license.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/07/conrad-murray-guilty-verdict_n_1074088.html
Justice is served!

[JumpinJack AJ]

Conrad Murray Breaks Silence -- Reveals Michael Jackson's Last Words


Posted on Nov 9th 2011 12:30PM by Sarah Chazan


In the days since his guilty verdict in the Michael Jackson manslaughter trial, Dr. Conrad Murray has remained oddly silent. So many questions linger about the physicians mindset on the fateful afternoon of MJ's death and the exact nature of Murray and Jackson's relationship. But all that is about to change with the announcement that MSNBC is planning to air the special, 'Michael Jackson and The Doctor: A Fatal Friendship' this Friday (Nov. 11) at 10 p.m., Eastern time.

According to The Daily Mail, the documentary began filming in November 2009, five months after MJ's death in June, and features a series of exclusive interviews with the doctor. In one chilling moment, Murray describes the last minutes of Michael's life, and the alleged last words of the musical idol.

"He was pleading and begging to please please let him have some milk because that was the only thing that would work,' said Murray, referring to propofol, the anaesthetic that Michael eventually overdosed on.

Defending his dosing strategy of the lethal prescription, Murray claims: "He [Michael] really could not sleep. Have you ever seen the 'Thriller' image when he was made up? He looked that hysterical."

Sadly, that final dose proved to be a huge misstep, as the doctor described the scene after Michael lost consciousness. "I told security to get the kids away from there, get the kids away because I did not want them to see their father getting CPR," says Murray. "And he (the security guard) says, 'Doctor, doctor, what happened?' I need help! I'm doing CPR, Mr Jackson's not breathing! Call 911! I need you to call 911!"

The now-disgraced doctor goes on to describe his loving relationship with MJ, perhaps in an attempt to downplay his role in the King of Pop's death. "He [Jackson] said of all my life I have found one friend, which is you, Dr Conrad. He had a dad who never hugged him, never hugged his own children. He lived a life greater than 100 years of pain, only human on Earth.' says Murray.

Currently, Jackson's private physician is being held in solitary confinement in the medical wing of Los Angeles County Jail due of fears he could be targeted by other inmates. There are also reports Murray has been under suicide watch since the guilty verdict came in. He'll return to court on November 29 for sentencing. In the meantime, TMZ is reporting today that MJ's death bed is going up for auction on Dec. 17.

[JumpinJack AJ]

Conrad Murray Sentenced: Michael Jackson's Doctor Gets 4 Years In Jail



First Posted: 11/29/11 01:01 PM ET Updated: 11/29/11 05:05 PM ET

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Michael Jackson's personal physician was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment in an L.A. County jail on Tuesday, capping a more than two-year legal journey investigating the King of Pop's death.
Conrad Murray, 58, stood stone-faced as Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor declared him an unfit candidate for probation and pronounced the sentence for involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's 2009 death, citing Murray's involvement in what the judge called a "cycle of horrible medicine."
"He has absolutely no sense of remorse," the judge said. "[Murray] is and remains dangerous. ... I think Dr. Murray is so reckless that I believe he is a danger to the community."
Pastor said the court will order Dr. Murray to pay restitution to Jackson's estate and children in an amount to be determined at a later restitution hearing when they can get more detailed information. Pastor also ordered $800 in restitution to the court, a $30 court security fee, and a $40 criminal conviction assessment.
"We know that Michael Jackson, as a direct result of the actions of Dr. Murray died on June 25, 2009, leaving his three children without their father," Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said during the proceedings. "It is the people's opinion that prison is warranted."
"As his brothers and sisters we will never be able to hold, laugh or perform with our brother Michael," said spokesman Brian Panish, delivering a collective statement from the Jackson family. "As his children we will grow up without a father, our best friend, our playmate and our dad. We are not here to seek revenge. There is nothing you can do today that will bring Michael back. But we will keep the love in our hearts that Michael embodied throughout his life. His passion was for unifying the world through the gift of his artistry. We respectfully request that you impose a sentence that reminds physicians that they cannot sell their services to the highest bidder and cast aside their Hippocratic Oath to do no harm. As we all know from this tragedy doing so can have devastating results."
Defense attorney Edward Chernoff told the court Murray grew up dirt poor in the Caribbean, made his way to U.S. and put himself through college and medical school, saying, "That's exactly what we want our neighbors and citizens to aspire to."
"For 14 years he prepared for a life as a doctor. All he is is a doctor and now that's gone. It's his fault. I'm not saying it's not but it is gone and if punishment is the point. If what you are really trying to determine is punishment as opposed to vengeance should that be taken into consideration at all? Dr. Murray, whether he is a barista for the rest of his life or a greeter at Walmart he still going to be the man that killed Michael Jackson. That's really who he is now. He's not a doctor. That's who he is," Chernoff said.
But Judge Pastor remained focused on the charges at hand and the doctor's "medicine madness" when handing down the sentencing decision. "Some may feel this was a medical malpractice case. It wasn't. It was and is a criminal homicide case," he said. "Michael Jackson died not because of an isolated, one-off occurrence or incident. He died because of a totality of circumstances which are directly attributable to Dr. Murray."
The California Department of Corrections will decide whether Murray will spend his time in a 23-hour lockdown cell or in the general jail population.
Jackson died at his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles on June 25, 2009. The legendary entertainer was preparing for a series of 50 shows in London for a career comeback tour entitled "This Is It" when he went into cardiac arrest.

According to the Los Angeles County coroner, Jackson's death was caused by "acute propofol intoxication" in combination with the use of two anti-anxiety benzodiazepines: lorazepam and midazolam.
During Murray's six-week trial, the prosecution insisted that Jackson's $150,000-a-month private doctor behaved recklessly by using a surgical anesthetic to treat Jackson's insomnia and was therefore criminally negligent in the performer's death.
Murray acknowledged giving the 50-year-old singer propofol as a sleep aid but denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
Walgren told jurors that the pop star "literally put his life in the hands of Dr. Conrad Murray." Walgren added, "That misplaced trust in the hands of Conrad Murray cost Michael Jackson his life."
Murray's defense counsel contended Jackson was so desperate for sleep that he administered the fatal doses of propofol and sedatives to himself when Murray was not watching.
"When Dr. Murray left the room, Michael Jackson self-administered a dose of propofol that, with the lorazepam, created a perfect storm in his body that killed him instantly," Chernoff, said during the trial.
Prosecutors said it made no difference who administered the drugs since it was Murray who brought them into the bedroom and, in the defense's scenario, left Jackson alone with them.
The jury of seven men and five women sat through 22 days of testimony from Jackson's employees, paramedics, doctors, investigators, medical experts and a number of Murray's girlfriends and patients. The jury deliberated for more than eight hours over two days before concluding that the evidence was sufficient beyond any reasonable doubt that Murray caused the singer's death.
Murray declined to testify during his trial and showed no emotion when the guilty verdict was read.
Several of Jackson's family members routinely attended the trial. Following the verdict, his mother, Katherine Jackson, exited the courthouse and declared, "Justice is served."
Murray's mother, Milta Rush, sent a letter to Judge Pastor prior to today's sentencing, speaking of her son's fine qualities and begging for mercy.
"He has never been in trouble with the law before and I am barely standing, scared and worried sick about him being incarcerated ... He never drank alcohol, took drugs or smoked cigarettes in his life," Rush wrote in the letter -- a copy of which was obtained by TMZ.
Rush added, "I sympathize with Mrs. Jackson as a mother; I feel her pain for having lost her son. I sense she was very close to her son. I really wanted to approach her personally and tell her I am sorry for the loss of her son but I was unsure if she would be receptive, and I did not want to take the chance of violating the courts rules. I am sorry for her loss."
Murray's legal team plans to file an appeal.