Conrad Murray trial: Michael Jackson's bodyguard to take stand
Thursday, September 29, 2011LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- During day three of the Conrad Murray trial, prosecutors hope to show that Michael Jackson's doctor delayed calling 911 the day the pop star died.
Alberto Alvarez, Jackson's bodyguard, will be called to the stand on Thursday. He was the first bodyguard that was in Jackson's bedroom after Murray found the singer unresponsive.
Prosecutors allege Murray tried to hide the fact that he had been giving the powerful sedative propofol to Jackson, and they're hoping Alvarez's testimony will support their claim.
Murray is on trial for involuntary manslaughter for Jackson's sudden death on June 25, 2009.
On Wednesday, the jury heard testimony from Jackson's head of security, Faheem Muhammad. Muhammad was summoned by Murray to Jackson's room on the second floor of the rented mansion in Holmby Hills the day Jackson died.
Muhammad testified that he saw Murray standing at Jackson's bedside attempting to revive Jackson, who appeared to be dead. He said Jackson's eyes were open and his mouth was slightly open.
After Jackson's death, Muhammad told police he had heard Murray was helping the singer cope with insomnia. When asked by the defense how he knew, Muhammad said it was just rumors. Defense lawyer Ed Chernoff tried to press him on the statement.
"Would it be fair to say that everybody knew, everybody knew that that's what Dr. Murray was doing, isn't that right," Chernoff asked.
"I can't say one way or another. I can say it for myself," Muhammad replied.
Two of Jackson's children, Paris and Prince, were in the room at the time and were crying, Muhammad told the court.
Muhammad said Murray "appeared nervous" and asked those in the room what he considered an odd question.
"Dr. Murray asked the question, 'Does anyone know CPR?'" Muhammad said.
Outside the courtroom, Murray's attorney, Michael Flanagan, said his client asked that question because CPR is better performed by two people than by one, and that Murray had administered CPR for 15 to 20 minutes and had become fatigued.
Jurors also heard from Jackson's assistant, Michael Amir Williams, who testified that Murray left him a voicemail saying, "Call me right away."
Williams said when he called Murray after hearing the voicemail, Murray asked him where he was.
"I said, 'I'm downtown,' and he said, 'Get here right away. Mr. Jackson had a bad reaction,'" Williams testified. "I don't know what you presume when you hear that, but when I hear someone had a bad reaction, I don't think anything fatal."
Walgren probed further, pointing to what Murray did and did not do. He asked if Murray asked him to call 911, to which Williams responded, "No, sir."
Jackson died at the age of 50, and prosecutors accuse Murray of administering a deadly dose of propofol to Jackson and then failing to properly monitor him. Murray has denied any wrongdoing.
Testimony on Thursday will continue to focus on what happened after Murray discovered Jackson wasn't breathing.
Along with Alvarez, a personal chef and two paramedics will be on the stand. Prosecutors say Murray didn't tell them he had been giving Jackson medication and propofol to sleep, but the defense maintains it was the singer, not Murray, who administered the deadly dose of propofol.
The trial is expected to last five weeks, with Oct. 28 being the estimated last day.
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http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/entertainment&id=8372519 (Archiv-Version vom 01.10.2011)
