Michael Jackson's Doctor Trial - Opening Statements

Los Angeles - The trial of the case of the man believed to be responsible for the death of super star Michael Jackson on June 25, 2009 begins today with opening statements from the prosecutors, and defense. Dr. Murray was the personal physician of the recording artist, dancer, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist, who was also fondly known as the King of Pop.

On February 8, 2010, Murray was charged with involuntary manslaughter by prosecutors in Los Angeles, after it was found that at the time of death, Jackson had propofol, lorazepam and midazolam in his body. Conrad Murray, said he found Jackson in his room, not breathing, but with a faint pulse, and that he administered CPR on his bed to no avail. He placed call to 911, Jackson was later pronounced dead at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

Jackson 50, died of what is believed to be an overdose of the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives. Jackson at the time was preparing with rehearsal for his "This Is It Tour." The "This Is It Tour" was scheduled to begin in July 2009, but Jackson died some three weeks before the commencement date.

Murray, 58, had said he gave the singer a dose of propofol as a sleeping aid and was by the singer's side on the day he died and has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Prosecutor Statements

"Michael Jackson literally put his life in the hands of Conrad Murray...Michael Jackson trusted his life to the medical skills of Conrad Murray.

"The evidence will show that that misplaced trust had far too high a price to pay ... it cost Michael Jackson his life," says Deputy District attorney David Walgren.

Walgren insists the evidence would show that the "acts and omissions of Michael Jackson's personal doctor Conrad Murray directly led to his premature death at the age of 50."

"Conrad Murray abandoned Michael when he needed help," the state insists.

"The evidence will show that Conrad Murray figuratively and literally abandoned Michael Jackson on June 25, 2009," Walgren says.

Defense Statements

Murray's lawyer, Ed Chernoff, said the defense intends to call expert witnesses including a propofol expert, Paul White. Dr. Paul White, an anesthesiologist, will testify behalf Murray in the case.

On the day he died, Jackson told Murray, he hadn't slept for a number of hours, and he wouldn't be able to complete his rehearsal which would disappoint his fans. He would fail if he did not get some propofol, Chernoff said.

Murray agreed to give him just a 25 mg injection of propofol mixed with lidocaine. Murray told investigators that when he gave this to Jackson the singer went to sleep. He checked his pulse and blood oxygen and both were normal.

Chernoff said, that Jackson referred to propofol as his "milk" and as it burns while being administered it was given with lidocaine which Jackson referred to as "anti-burn".

Chernoff said the defense will present evidence about Jackson's treatments from his dermatologist, Dr Arnold Klein, who he would sometimes visit three or four times a week. During the weekly appointments, Jackson would receive a shots of demerol. Chernoff told the jury. And one of the most "insidious" side effects of demerol is "an inability to sleep, and for some patients it's an absolute inability."