Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Edition:
U.S.
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
Home
Business
Business Home
Economy
Technology
Media
Small Business
Green Business
Legal
Deals
Earnings
Summits
Business Video
Markets
Markets Home
U.S. Markets
European Markets
Asian Markets
Global Market Data
Indices
M&A
Stocks
Bonds
Currencies
Commodities
Futures
Funds
peHUB
World
World Home
U.S.
Brazil
China
Euro Zone
Japan
Mexico
Russia
Afghan Journal
Africa Journal
India Insight
Global News Journal
Pakistan: Now or Never?
World Video
Politics
Politics Home
Front Row Washington
Politics Video
Technology
Technology Home
MediaFile
Science
Tech Video
Opinion
Opinion Home
Chrystia Freeland
Felix Salmon
Jack Shafer
Breakingviews
George Chen
Bernd Debusmann
Gregg Easterbrook
James Pethokoukis
James Saft
John Wasik
Christopher Whalen
Ian Bremmer
Mohamed El-Erian
Lawrence Summers
The Great Debate
Unstructured Finance
Newsmaker
MuniLand
Money
Money Home
Analyst Research
Global Investing
MuniLand
Reuters Money
Alerts
Watchlist
Portfolio
Stock Screener
Fund Screener
Personal Finance Video
Life & Culture
Health
Sports
Arts
Faithworld
Business Traveler
Left Field
Entertainment
Oddly Enough
Lifestyle Video
Pictures
Pictures Home
Reuters Photographers
Full Focus
Video
Article
Comments (1)
Slideshow
Video
VIDEO
Michael Jackson death trial opens
The prosecution makes opening statements in the manslaughter case against the late Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray. Warning: Graphic Content. Video
Defense: Jackson "caused his own death"
Taylor Lautner mobbed by fans
Mexican documentary wins an Emmy
Giorgio Armani and Roberto Cavalli fashion
Follow Reuters
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
YouTube
Read
First Boeing Dreamliner arrives in fortress Japan
|
1:19am EDT
Apple Prepares to Unveil iPhone 5 Oct. 4
27 Sep 2011
Nancy Grace Denies 'DWTS' Nip-Slip
27 Sep 2011
Judge asked to order more drugs for shooting suspect Loughner
27 Sep 2011
Apple expected to unveil new iPhone next week
27 Sep 2011
Discussed
109
Particles recorded moving faster than light: CERN
90
House unexpectedly defeats spending bill
80
UPDATE 1-Particles found to break speed of light
Watched
Rihanna's "inappropriate" outfit haults music video
Tue, Sep 27 2011
Man held after 41 years on the run
Tue, Sep 27 2011
Is technology killing jobs?
Mon, Sep 26 2011
Michael Jackson images dominate opening of death trial
Tweet
Share this
Email
Print
Related News
Jackson appeared drunk at news conference: lawyer
Mon, Sep 26 2011
Jury selected for Jackson doctor's trial
Fri, Sep 23 2011
Analysis: Bachmann vaccine comments toxic, doctors say
Thu, Sep 15 2011
More U.S. doctors facing charges over drug abuse
Wed, Sep 14 2011
Nadal and Murray through to U.S. Open semis
Fri, Sep 9 2011
Analysis & Opinion
The Lineman: Week Two NFL picks
Mr. Cooper, please meet Mr. Cooper
Related Topics
U.S. »
Entertainment »
Fashion »
Music »
People »
Related Video
Trial begins for Jackson's doctor
Tue, Sep 27 2011
Prosecution makes its case against Jackson doctor
Murray defense: Jackson "caused his own death"
Murray trial starts, Sheen settles lawsuit
1 of 33. Dr. Conrad Murray (C) wipes a tear during the opening arguments in his trial in the death of pop star Michael Jackson in Los Angeles September 27, 2011.
Credit: Reuters/Al Seib/Pool
By Alex Dobuzinskis
LOS ANGELES |
Tue Sep 27, 2011 9:48pm EDT
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Images of Michael Jackson lying dead in a hospital and rehearsing the day before his death, along with recollections of the singer as a troubled "lost boy," made for a heart-wrenching opening on Tuesday to the manslaughter trial of the doctor hired to care for him.
In opening arguments two years after Jackson's death by drug overdose of propofol and sedatives, prosecutor David Walgren told jurors the "Thriller" singer "literally put his life in the hands of Dr. Conrad Murray."
"That misplaced trust in the hands of Conrad Murray cost Michael Jackson his life," Walgren said.
But Murray's lawyers argued Jackson "caused his own death" by giving himself extra medication in a bid to sleep. "He died so rapidly, so instantly, he didn't even have time to close his eyes," defense attorney Ed Chernoff said in opening arguments.
Murray denies he is guilty of the involuntary manslaughter of Jackson on June 25, 2009, but admits giving the 50-year-old pop star a dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol as a sleep aid. He faces a prison sentence of up to four years if convicted. The trial is expected to last four to six weeks.
The Texas cardiologist, who was paid $150,000 a month to care for Jackson, wiped away tears during Tuesday's opening statements as Chernoff defended him.
Jackson's lifeless body was found at his rented Los Angeles mansion just three weeks before a series of 50 planned London comeback concerts titled "This Is It" were scheduled to begin.
Kenny Ortega, the co-director of the concerts, testified that Jackson was excited about the shows because he wanted his young children to see him perform.
"LIKE A LOST BOY"
But on June 19, six days before his death, Jackson turned up at rehearsals in Los Angeles in a worried state. "Michael seemed chilled, lost and incoherent," Ortega recalled.
"I was feeding him, wrapping him in blankets to warm his chills, massaging his feet to calm him and calling his doctor," Ortega wrote in an email to concert promoters hours later. "It broke my heart. He was like a lost boy ... He is terribly frightened it is all going to go away," Ortega put in the email.
Four days later, Jackson was back "full of energy, full of desire to work, full of enthusiasm," Ortega said. Ortega hugged Jackson goodbye after another good day of rehearsals on June 24. On June 25, the director and choreographer said he got a call saying "We lost him."
Chernoff told jurors Murray was trying to wean the pop star off propofol, which Jackson called "milk."
He argued that a frustrated Jackson, tired and under pressure to get the concerts ready, gave himself eight lorazepam anti-anxiety pills to sleep in the early hours of June 25. When he still could not rest, he added propofol.
"We believe the evidence will show... that when Dr. Murray left the room, Michael Jackson self-administered a dose of propofol that with the lorazepam created a perfect storm within his body that killed him instantly," Chernoff added.
"The whole thing is tragic, but the evidence is not that Dr Murray did it," Chernoff said.
Walgren opened the prosecution case by showing jurors a photo of a thin Jackson lying dead on a hospital gurney. He later played video of Jackson's last performance -- an emotional rehearsal of "Earth Song" filmed on June 24, 2009.
Footage of the rehearsals was made into Jackson's posthumous concert movie "This Is It" in 2009 and it became a global box office hit.
Jackson's parents, Joe and Katherine, his sisters, Janet and La Toya, and other family members were in court on Tuesday, while outside dozens of fans outside the courtroom held sunflowers, pictures of the dead pop star, and placards saying "Justice for Michael."
(Writing by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Bill Trott)
U.S.
Entertainment
Fashion
Music
People
Tweet this
Link this
Share this
Digg this
Email
Reprints
We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/
Comments (1)
dibeanie wrote:
I wish they’d drop this trial altogether. I don’t think the doctor is guilty of manslaughter or murder. Michael Jackson did what he did to himself. I wish EVERYone would let him rest in peace and that includes his family & the courts.
Sep 27, 2011 8:56pm EDT -- Report as abuse
See All Comments »
Add Your Comment
Social Stream (What's this?)
Edition:
U.S.
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
Back to top
Reuters.com
Business
Markets
World
Politics
Technology
Opinion
Money
Pictures
Videos
Site Index
Legal
Bankruptcy Law
California Legal
New York Legal
Securities Law
Support & Contact
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Connect with Reuters
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
RSS
Podcast
Newsletters
Mobile
About
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Our Flagship financial information platform incorporating Reuters Insider
An ultra-low latency infrastructure for electronic trading and data distribution
A connected approach to governance, risk and compliance
Our next generation legal research platform
Our global tax workstation
Thomsonreuters.com
About Thomson Reuters
Investor Relations
Careers
Contact Us
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.