Conrad Murray trial week 5. WILL THE TRUTH WIN?
This is a place to collect everything about week 5 of Conrad Murray’s trial.
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We haven’t yet finished with the last two days of week 4, but I still hope to fully transcribe day 14. It is the culmination of Dr. Shafer’s testimony, is central to the case and deserves to be covered in full (so please give me some time for that).
But simultaneously I would like to cut on Chernoff’s cross-examination of Dr. Shafer – simply because there is not much to say there. Let me repeat what I earlier said about his method of defending Murray. It looks more like a bullying spectacle or a bad theatre where each question is pronounced with an intonation implying it has some meaning while actually it does not.
I was a little afraid that the highly gentlemanly Dr. Shafer would not be able to stand up to this bullying technique but was amazed to see that he did. And even realized why.
He is not only a doctor – he is first and foremost a scientist who is used to scientific debate and defending his findings. You could see it from the easy way he could get any paper needed from his computer or from the polite but stern manner in which he was answering Chernoff’s questions. This type of confidence can arise only from hard work in searching for the truth and realization that you have looked into every possibility there was to look into.
What you see in Dr. Shafer is what true science is all about.
Scientists may be different too – some of them think of career only and may not be even above falsifying facts in the field of their studies. By the time their opponents make similar experiments and discover the deceit, time will pass while they have already made a successful career and grabbed a lot of money and awards.
But real Scientists are a totally different breed. Their system of values is nothing you can compare with – they will spare no time and effort to get to the truth of the matter. When others relax and enjoy themselves they will still work. They will not be pompous and full of self-importance but will look childlike in their desire to sacrifice a lot in exchange for a small grain of knowledge they are seeking. In their enthusiasm they will remind you of boys who tirelessly climb trees in order to see what’s there on the horizon.
They have a strict code of ethics which will not allow them to charge fees for the testimony because this may compromise their integrity and unbiased approach. They will even pay their own money for making an experiment to get to the bottom of the matter (Dr. Shafer paid $150 for a specific type of an infusion site to be delivered overnight). And all this because they value the truth more than anyone else and are terribly curious to know it.
Dr. Shafer is that kind of a Scientist.
It is a sort of a miracle that after his death Michael Jackson has started to draw to himself the best kind of people.
How many of them have we seen for the past four weeks? A lot, and surely much more than Michael Jackson saw when he was alive. The paramedics who arrived only four minutes after the 911 call, the emergency room doctors who worked so hard that they would have surely revived him had he not died long ago, the coroner who set the record straight by pronouncing a homicide, Dr. Steinberg who boldly handled Murray’s false interview and proved his guilt on the basis of his own lies. And now Dr. Shafer who is the epitome of science, hard work, selflessness and truth.
The feeling that Michael Jackson has suddenly become a magnet for only the best kind of people is reinforced by prosecutors David Walgren and Deborah Brazil who are doing a fantastic job. Walgren’s clear-cut questions are a treat to listen to and his whole demeanor, professionalism and determination to do justice are a complete opposite to the qualities of other prosecutors in Michael Jackson’s life – Tom Sneddon and his ilk.
In short this trial is a total opposite of the farce they created for Michael in 2005. Over there only Thomas Mesereau was enjoying the same level of excellency, while here there is a whole squadron of the same kind of people. And it is only the reason why all of them have come together which is damping the joy of seeing them by Michael’s side.
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Here is an article by Linda Deutsch which was posted as a comment on week 4 but is so good that it deserves to be brought to everyone’s attention as a summary of week 4 at the trial:
After an emotional start, science takes over trial
By LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent
October 23, 2011
LOS ANGELES (AP) — While the defense was on the verge of its counter attack in the trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor, the prosecution dramatically shifted the focus from personalities to science — its most powerful weapon in the courtroom battle..
Its star witness, a scientist with a reassuring witness box manner, had jurors on their feet straining for a better view of his show-and-tell demonstration. It was the closest they would come to seeing a purported re-enactment of how the King of Pop died.
Dr. Conrad Murray, charged with causing Jackson’s death, watched intently as Dr. Steven Shafer closed the case against him holding a bottle of propofol, an IV bag and a tube carrying the milky white liquid downward.
That was how it happened on June 25, 2009, said Shafer. He was certain.
On Monday, a defense attorney will try to shake his testimony and later a fellow scientist billed as “the father of propofol,” will offer another theory. Whether Dr. Paul White can absolve Murray of blame for the singer’s death remains to be seen. But the defense is just beginning.
“He will have to stand firm on the fact that reasonable minds can differ,” said Marcellus McRae, a former federal prosecutor and trial attorney who has been following the case closely. “He will have to change the landscape here and show some reasonable doubt. The question is will this be enough?”
Murray, a Houston based cardiologist, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
McRae said calling Shafer as the final prosecution witness was a master stroke. “Brick by evidentiary brick, Shafer has built a wall of scientific reasons for the jury to conclude that Dr. Murray was criminally negligent,” he said. “It allows the prosecution to tell the jury that their case is built on science rather than shifting theories.”
In addition to making the science understandable, Shafer offered some colloquial phrases that may resonate with jurors including the words “crazy” and “clueless.”
He called Murray’s unorthodox use of propofol as entering “a pharmacological never-never land “and said the doctor was “clueless” when it came to helping his dying patient.
And he denounced a defense theory that Jackson could have awoken from sedation and given himself the drugs that killed him during a few minutes that he was left alone by Murray.
“People don’t just wake up from anesthesia hell-bent to pick up a syringe and pump it into the IV,” Shafer said, reminding the jury that the procedure was complicated. “It’s a crazy scenario.”
Shafer stood in the well of the courtroom with an IV pole, a bag of saline solution and a bottle of propofol, showing how the drug could have run quickly into Jackson’s veins while his doctor was out of the bedroom.
He drew a scene in which Murray, lacking the proper equipment to measure doses, left Jackson on an IV drip of the powerful anesthetic flowing quickly under the pull of gravity into the sleeping singer. It was the explanation, he said, of how Jackson died of a propofol overdose with no one present to see that he had stopped breathing.
“This fits all of the data in this case and I am not aware of a single piece of data that is inconsistent with this explanation,” Shafer said.
In early cross-examination, defense attorney Ed Chernoff asked Shafer if that wasn’t “a bold statement.”
“It’s an honest statement,” he replied.
Shafer’s mathematical calculations projected on a large screen concluded that Murray had not given his patient the minimal 25 milligrams he claimed, but had started a vastly larger infusion of a 100 milliliter bottle, containing 1,000 milligrams of the drug. No, Shafer said, Jackson had not given himself an additional infusion of propofol.”He can’t give himself an injection if he’s asleep,” he said.
Shafer was the prosecution’s closer. An anesthesiology professor and researcher at Columbia University Medical School, he wrote the package insert instructing doctors how to use propofol.
He listed 17 “egregious” violations of the standard of care by Murray, chief among them leaving his anesthetized patient alone and failing to call 9-1-1 when he found Jackson not breathing.
Deputy District Attorney David Walgren concluded a key day of Shafer’s examination by asking: “Would it be your opinion that Conrad Murray is directly responsible for the death of Michael Jackson for his egregious violations and abandonment of Michael Jackson?”
Shafer replied, “Absolutely.”
Just giving Jackson the anesthetic as a sleep aid in a home setting was unconscionable, Shafer testified. It is intended for surgery in hospitals where resuscitation equipment is available.
“We are in pharmacological never-never land here, something that was done to Michael Jackson and no one else in history to my knowledge,” he told jurors.
Gray haired and amiable, Shafer entranced jurors with his easy manner, speaking directly to them as he made molecules understandable and led them through complicated graphs projected on a courtroom screen.
When Chernoff accused him of trying to send a message to jurors, he responded calmly, “I’m trying to make it easy for the jury. These are complex graphs and I’m trying to explain to the jury a very complex pharmacology. There is no other agenda as you’re suggesting.”
McRae gave Walgren and co-prosecutor Deborah Brazil high marks. “Good trial lawyers know that you have to persuade on the law, persuade on a factual level and then persuade on a moral and common sense level,” he said. “Even though you’re not going to hear an instruction about morality, the jury has to feel they’re making the right decision on a gut level. I think the prosecutors here have done a very effective job of hitting the human element, the moral element and now the factual element.” he said.
A parade of 32 witnesses had testified before Shafer took the stand and stole the show. They included Jackson’s household personnel, security guards, paramedics and a business associate. Jurors heard about the legendary singer’s final day on earth — singing and dancing at a rehearsal for his comeback concert, revelling in the adulation of fans who showered him with gifts. And then a night of horror, chasing the most elusive treasure he craved — sleep.
Most dramatic were two recordings — one of the heavily drugged singer dreaming aloud to his doctor about future triumphs and then the doctor himself being interviewed by police two days after the death that shook the world of pop culture.
All of it told a compelling story structured by prosecutors Walgren and Brazil to prove that Murray, who had been hired by Jackson for $150,000 a month as his personal physician, was responsible for his famous patient’s death.
With the trial winding down, they brought on the experts, a coroner and two doctors who evaluated Murray’s conduct for the California Medical Board.
Dr. Nathan Kamangar, described Murray’s conduct as “unethical, disturbing and beyond comprehension.”
Dr. Alon Steinberg enumerated deviations from the standard of care, and said, “If all of these deviations didn’t happen, Michael Jackson might have been alive.”
Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Day 16. Monday, October 24
Chernoff of the Defense is going on with his cross-examination of Dr. Shafer. Some of Chernoff’s questions look logical though some are downright nasty and irrelevant.
The model run by Dr. Shafer for Dr. White of the defense. It is meant to show that 25mg were administered slowly and presented no danger of apnea for the patient
First he asked about rapid boluses of propofol and showed a graph prepared by Dr. Shafer for his opponent (!) Dr. White.
The model is trying to prove that if Murray administered 25mg of propofol slowly there was never a risk of apnea (a stop in breathing).
No, there wasn’t – only Dr. Shafer effectively proved that Michael Jackson was given a much higher dose.
Chernoff tried to compromise Dr. Shafer’s method of work by saying that Murray never said to the police that he had given more than 25 mg (wrong – Murray said that he usually administered 50mg), so all those figures of 50mg or 6 injections were just taken “from thin air”.
But this is exactly what the science of pharmacokinetics does! Since Murray was not keeping any records Dr. Shafer had only one figure to go by – the level of profol in the femoral blood found on autopsy – and all the other figures were introduced into the model for computer to process and see which combination of data would be consistent with the end result.
And what does it matter what Murray said or didn’t say to the police? Most of it was lies anyway. Dr. Shafer was working on a model which would explain the high amount of propofol in Michael Jackson’s blood (though propofol is a drug which leaves the body very quickly).
And the only scenario which was consistent with that concentration in blood upon autopsy was a combination of an IV infusion of 100ml propofol and it still going into the body after the heart stopped beating. Otherwise the propofol level would have fallen within a very short period of time due to continued blood circulation and metabolism.
Then Chernoff raised his favourite theme of Lorazepam. He referred to the number (from Dr. Greenblutt’s findings) which Dr. Shafer used for calculating the half-life of Lorazepam in the stomach. According to these data the amount of the active drug in the body is cut in half every 22 minutes. Other findings show it may be 40 minutes but Dr. Shafer used the most conservative variant of 22 min.
This is an interesting tool for calculating how much active Lorazepam will stay in the body after coming into the stomach. It shows that if the initial dose was – hypothetically – 16 ml, in the first 22 minutes it will turn into 8 ml, 22 minutes later it will be 4 ml, then 2 ml, then 1 ml and so on.
I’ve made some rough calculations myself and found that if 16ml were taken, in 5 hours only 0, 00157ml of it would be left in the stomach. However if a different system of calculation was used – the one based on a 40min half-life of Lorazepam – the same would have been found in the stomach in approx. twice as longer time (around 10 hours!)
This means that Dr. Shafer’s study was really conservative and if 16ml of Lorazepam pills had been taken, say at 02.00 am, some particles of the drug would have still be found at the time of death (supposedly noon time) 10 hours later.
After being tortured by Chernoff’s questions whether Dr. Shafer “could envision Lorazepam pills taken by MJ” the doctor said that before 8 o’clock he could envision it (only it doesn’t change anything in respect of the propofol intoxication Michael really died of).
Then they discussed the time when Lorazepam reaches its peak – it is 2 hours after it comes into the stomach. Dr. Shafer explained it in a fascinating manner. When a drug is swallowed, there are two processes starting to play off against each other – the stomach sends the drug into blood and the liver removes the drug from the blood (for breaking it up into metabolites), so they are more or less competing with each other in the rate at which they are doing it.
The peak concentration in the blood is when the rate of the drug coming in from the stomach is equal to the rate of it being removed by the liver, after which the liver wins and the concentration starts falling.
Dr. Shafer also determined the amount of Lorazepam in the urine and his results were based on the toxicology report. Chernoff asked a crazy question whether he had made an independent analysis of the urine to which Dr. Shafer said had no possibility to do it as he wasn’t running a lab.
Dr. Shafer specifically looked into the urine results to see if they were consistent with either oral or intravenous dosing paradigm of Lorazepam suggested by the two opposing sides at the trial.
Chernoff asked “From where is the oral paradigm coming”? implying that Dr. Shafer believed in that scenario, otherwise he wouldn’t have looked into it.
Dr. Shafer said, “From you” (meaning that otherwise he would not have looked into those insignificant numbers at all).
“Oh”, said Chernoff.
After Lorazepam is metabolized in the liver, its metabolite is excreted by kidneys (93% of it leaves the body that way). And Dr. Shafer checked for Lorazepam metabolite (lorazepam gluconoride) in the urine based on the defense’s theory that 16ml of Lorazepam were taken at 8 and 10 in the morning. The theory was evidently ruled out as Chernoff didn’t venture to ask further questions here.
Instead he switched over to Propofol. Chernoff produced Dr. Shafer’s final model (where Murray is giving a drip of 100ml of propofol) and asked an incredible question trying to impress the jury with its nasty implications,
- “You constructed a simulation where just by chance at the exact time the bottle ran out Michael Jackson also died. Is that sort of a coincidence”?
It was Dr. Shafer’s intent to make a model consistent with all available data
- Dr. Shafer politely answered,“No, it was my intent”.
It was indeed Dr. Shafer’s intent to work out a model which would be totally consistent with all the data available to him.
The major (and probably the only one) was the level of propofol in Michael Jackson’s blood found on autopsy. There was simply nothings else due to the absence of medical charts and records which Murray failed to make.
To try to disprove Dr. Shafer’s 100 ml simulation of propofol in the blood, Chernoff asked if Dr. Shafer could make a projection of the level of propofol in the urine which would be consistent with his simulation of the level of propofol in the blood.
Chernoff gave Dr. Shafer a research paper showing that the level of propofol metabolite in the urine should be 50% of the administered drug. Dr. Shafer said that the process is a little more complex as at least 25% of propofol goes to the bile, so making the determination on that point would require research.
The toxicology report showed the level and number of propofol in the urine as a drug but didn’t show the number of it as its metabolite (propofol glucoronide). If there is a propofol glucoronide number and the time within which the glucoronide was excreted to urine it will be possible to make a model and determine the consistency of the dose with the gluconoride number, said Dr. Shafer.
A GOOD QUESTION!
And this means we can expect the show to go on. Now the defense will go after the number of propofol in the urine (and there were at least two samples of it – one in the jug, and another taken from the bladder on autopsy) and if they obtain those results they will compare them with Dr. Shafer’s final simulation trying to discredit it.
Given that there are several samples of urine (the one in the room was taken at an unknown time) there might be a multitude of variants, and I am afraid that the defense will try to use them to turn a totally clear picture into something vague.
Chernoff raised another favourite subject, that of Demerol, and confronted Dr. Shafer with another bullying statement:
“You decided to venture an opinion which is outside your area of expertise?”
Dr. Shafer explained that he takes care of patients with various types of addictions on a very regular basis, but doesn’t consider himself a specialist in the field (with all his modesty I bet he is a much better expert in addiction than Murray in his cardiology).
When re-examined by Walgren he developed that point and said that the records kept by Dr. Klein were not sufficient for him to say that Michael Jackson was an addict. Based on those records alone it is not possible to say that. (Indeed the injections a doctor gives to a patient to dull his pain during procedures do not mean that the patient is an addict!)
Dr. Shafer also confirmed that no Demerol or its metabolites were found in Michael Jackson’s blood, urine or wherever, and Demerol didn’t contribute to his death (so all Chernoff’s talk about its usage is the unnecessary thundering of the air).
However it is clear that in the future we can expect Chernoff to claim things like Michael Jackson developing a heart problem due to a “rapid withdrawal from Demerol”. He will also claim that it was not a respiratory arrest but a heart arrest that brought Michael into a coma (which makes a big difference in terms of how it is handled).
Our Lynette has already commented on the so-called “rapid withdrawal” from Demerol:
“There is no such thing as rapid withdrawal! Withdrawal is withdrawal and it has to take a certain time to progress.If there were such a thing as rapid withdrawal there would be no such thing as addiction. If there were rapid withdrawal no one would have a problem with it because it would be over with rapidly. See how stupid that idea is.
Withdrawal takes about 72 hours to reach it’s peak and depending on the drug involved in this case Demerol it would take up to 2 weeks for the person to stop having the symptoms.
I just spent the last 12 hours today with 7 people that are actively in withdrawal from opiates and believe me when I tell you that I would like nothing more than to ease their suffering and have them go through rapid withdrawal however I can’t because there is no such thing.
However since there was no Demerol found in Michael’s system we have every reason to believe that he had no problem with it at all, so any withdrawal from it is again just the usual thundering of the air.
On Friday last week Chernoff had issues with Dr. Shafer’s using an unknown infusion line for his staggering demonstration. Dr. Shafer did indeed have to buy an analog. At redirect examination on day 16 David Walgren explained that Dr. Shafer had to use a different type of a vented infusion set as he did not have access to the original one.
The infusion line Murray used was a compact one
Now they compared the one used at the demonstration with the standard SeaCoast infusion vented set available to Murray and didn’t find any difference between the two, except that the SeaCoast product was a much smaller and less cumbersome one (and so was easier to put into a pocket).
Walgren showed two entries from SeaCoast company’s medical records which supplied Murray with those vented lines and it turned out that under two shipments alone (made on April 14 and May 12, 2009) Murray received 150 infusion lines of this type!
On May 12 Murray was shipped 100 pcs of vented infusion lines
- Let me remind you that a vented line is required for drawing Propofol from a glass bottle – this bottle won’t shrink when the drug is drawn out of it and due to a vacuum created inside it needs air for the liquid to freely flow. A vented infusion line allows to introduce air inside the bottle.
Walgren also spoke about the slit in the saline bag – it struck Dr. Shafer as extraordinary (and therefore suggested to him that the vial of propofol was put inside it). This was an answer to Chernoff’s earlier question about how Dr. Shafer came to the idea that the bottle was inside the bag (the implication was that the idea was suggested to him by the prosecution).
David Walgren referred to Friday’s testimony of Dr. Shafer (the one which I haven’t covered yet) and also said something very important about Lorazepam.
It turns out that Dr. Shafer asked the toxicologist Dan Anderson to differentiate between Lorazapam proper and Lorazepam gluconoride in the stomach and when the differentiation was made he came up to even a smaller number of the drug proper remaining there – it was only 1/330th part of a 2ml tablet (before that differentiation was made the overall result for both Lorazepam and its metabolite had been 1/43d of one tablet).
And since there was almost no Lorazepam as a drug in Michael’s stomach it means that either it was not taken orally at all, or was taken, but very long ago, so that the drug had practically disappeared from the stomach. And Michael could not have taken long ago – at the beginning of the night he didn’t yet know he would not be able to fall asleep.
Since most of Lorazepam was found in the stomach as a metabolite it means it came from its injection into the blood after which it went through the liver and then splashed into the stomach. So finding Lorazepam in the stomach as a metabolite is a sign that it was given intravenously.
Following Chernoff’s criticism last Friday (that Michael could not get Lorazepam by IV at 12.00 am as he was not home yet) Walgren presented a new simulation of Lorazepam given intravenously on June 25.
Dr. Shafer just shifted the administration of the drug to a later time when Michael was already home. The model started later but had shorter intervals between the injections.
The result was the same and was consistent with the level of Lorazepam in Michael’s blood found on autopsy.
Then Walgren returned to Chernoff’s statements that all Dr. Shafer words were “his opinion only”.
Dr. Shafer said that though it was his opinion, it was based on almost 30 years of expertise. And the standards of care heavily violated by Murray were not just taken “from thin air”, but are published by his professional society and are obligatory for all anesthesiologists and physicians giving anesthesia.
David Walgren asked: “Can you rule out the possibility that Michael Jackson manipulated something to cause the propofol to flow?”
“That’s a possibility,” Shafer said. But that is assuming Murray set up the drip and left Jackson’s side, he said.
Would Shafer’s opinion that Murray was responsible for Jackson’s death change if he knew Jackson turned the drip on?
“No, if Michael Jackson had reached up, seen the roller clamp and opened it himself, this is a foreseeable consequence of setting up an essentially dangerous way of giving drugs,” Shafer said. “It doesn’t change things at all. It would still be considered abandonment.”
Walgren asked if there was any other factual scenario – based on the data – which would explain the level of propofol in Michael Jackson’s blood other than the use of 100ml of Propofol by IV?
Dr. Shafer said that he had been unable to create any other model which would be consistent with the femoral blood level on autopsy.
- Let me remind you that according to his model Michael was put on a drip and his death occurred during the infusion. First his breathing stopped, then ten minutes later his heart stopped , but the propofol went on pouring into his body. Since the circulation stopped propofol was no longer metabolized and therefore reached the high level shown in the autopsy report.
David Walgren reminded the jury that Dr. Shafer was making simulations not only for the prosecution but for the defense too. Dr. Shafer said that if they had requested some other models from him he would have of course done it (what a rare witness Dr. Shafer is!).
Walgren is also evidently struck by his witness and asked him questions about his pro bono work. Dr. Shafer said that it was his custom not to charge fees in any kind of consultations. He would provide consultations for both sides – to defend doctors and provide his opinion in a malpractice cases.
He said that he adhered to the same principles in his research work too – he made available the results of his work to his colleagues all over the world on a free basis. He developed numerous computer models concerning the administration of drugs and made this software available to other doctors via the Internet. When Walgren asked him if it could have a great monetary value Dr. Shafer was too modest to say that it could have brought him a fortune and merely said “there would have been some”.
Walgren asked, “Why do you do it?”
“It helps promote science”, said Dr. Shafer.
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Most of the other witnesses deserve one sentence only.
Donne Norris is employed at the Beverly Hills Police Department. She commented on the 911 call made by Alvarez.
It was registered at 12.20 and then redirected to the Fire Department. The duration was 43 seconds (while the paramedics were already on the way). What drew my attention is that it was a call from a cell phone – so if Alvarez could call 911 from a cell phone, Conrad Murray could too.
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Alexander Supall is employed at the Los Angeles Police Deparment and is a police surveillance specialist. He went to N.Carolwood Drive 100 to assist in a possible retrieval of the video footage. He arrived there at 7.30 pm. Detective Martinez was already there. The found the digital video recorder somewhere in the basement and watched it. The defense played two records which didn’t really show anything except that first one car arrived (Murray?), then one more arrived and at 00.58 one car brought Michael Jackson (he wasn’t shown) and the second car followed it. At 1.06 pm one of these cars left.
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Detective Dan Mayers from the LAPD is the one who analyzed the phone calls during the preliminary hearings. However at the trial no one asked him questions about it.
The Defense asked him questions primarily about his interview with Alberto Alvarez, the bodyguard who testified at this trial that he had seen a vial of Propofol inside a saline bag, that Murray had been collecting things from the floor before he asked him to call 911 and who ultimately made that 911 call (see his testimony here).
The questions were aimed to show that Alvarez had kept silence until August 31, 2009. However we remember that Alvarez was never asked any questions before August 31. Detective Scott Smith briefly spoke to him on June 25 (see his testimony here) and took his contact information and it was only after the coroner had determined that it was a homicide that the police approached Alvarez some two months later.
Detective Mayers had no other possibility but agree with questions like:
- “He never mentioned Dr. Murray putting away any vials?” No.
- “He never mentioned any bottle in the bag?” No.
- “Did Alvarez draw the bottle in the bag two months after Michael Jackson’s death? ” Yes.
- “Was it a few days after the coroner’s office released its report?” Yes.
What else could he say in reply?
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Detective Martinez is the one who interviewed Conrad Murray on June 27th and who from the start of it said that the would “make it as painless and quick as possible” (for Conrad Murray of course).
Martinez has been a police detective of the Homicide Division for 10,5 years. He arrived at the ULCA hospital at 3 pm to conduct interviews. He did “half of it” with Alvarez and then attended to something different and Detective Smith went on with it.
Let me remind you that during that brief interview the most the detectives did was taking contact information from the body guards.
The same questions and answers ensued: “Did Alvarez mention putting away the vials?” “No”, etc.
At 7.30 he arrived at N.Carolwood Drive. He didn’t observe Alvarez there but saw Faheem Mohammad and Alex Supall who was in charge of the surveillance cameras.
Detective Alvarez was the one who determined that out of all the video footage only the arrival of Conrad Murray and Michael Jackson would be of interest and downloaded. Now he admits that more of it could have been recorded.
At the August 31, 2009 meeting he wasn’t present. But he met Alvarez in April 2011 when the Deputy D.A. Walgren called him and asked to bring some evidence to a meeting with Alvarez. Out of the box of evidence he showed to Alvarez the saline bag, the pulse oxymeter and the propofol bottle.
Alberto Alvarez drew a picture of a bottle inside a saline bag on August 31, 2009
The Defense showed the detective the drawing made by Alvarez on August 31, 2009.
The Defense: Would you agree that two years after that he made a drawing which is significantly different from the original?
Martinez: Yes, I would.
Prosecutor Walgren: Was there a reason why you asked Mr. Alvarez to make this drawing (in April 2011)?
The picture Alvarez drew in April 2011
Detective Martinez explained that when Alvarez saw the saline bag he recalled that when Murray had asked him to put it away into a bag there was an additional chamber to it (that chamber is marked by a white dot in the picture on the right).
The Defense asked the detective whether Alvarez had mentioned that chamber before. Martinez said “No”. (When could he? When Martinez spoke to him in the hospital?)
The way I see it, it could be the spike (or part of it) we earlier spoke of. Before putting the bags in the closet Murray could have disconnected it from the saline bag and put it in his pocket.
Alvarez had no way to know what it was, but noticed that it was missing when he saw the saline bag again.
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I have put down this testimony practically in full.
Dr. Allen Metzger is a physician and has been in practice since 1974. He met Michael Jackson 15-20 years ago. He started treating Michael Jackson at about that time. Over the years they became friends. He was mostly one of his primary physicians in Los Angeles. He was his main internal medicine physician while Michael would see on and off other specialists. He knows the dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein as one of those specialists.
In February 2009 he received a phone call from Michael Jackson. Prior to that time he had spoken to him on June 12, 2008.
To determine the precise date he referenced with his medical records and in the process of it we learn that though they cover the period of 2002-09 there are only 5 pages in those records! So when you read in newspapers that Dr. Metzger had a “pile of records” in front of him please disregard it as a lie.
The conversation in 2008 was about Michael’s health, sleep issues, nutrition and some skin care issues. Dr.Metzger believed that at that time he was primarily living in Las Vegas.
Prior to that conversation Dr. Metzger had spoken to Michael Jackson many years earlier, in June 2003 when Michael came into his office. Michael said to the doctor that he was taking Xanax for sleep. The conversation also concerned a preoperative examination before some therapy to be undertaken. The conversation is recorded in the medical records as the doctor usually dictates the notes after an office or house call by a patient.
In June 2008 they discussed general health issues. Michael was under stress and was taking Tylenol PM for sleep. The doctor asked Michael when would be the next time he would come to Los Angeles and he was not sure. They talked about some basic skin care and his back strain. He probably said that he was looking forward to seeing him as he always wanted him to know that he was always medically and socially available for him. He asked Michael to see Dr. Klein as they discussed skin issues.
He next heard from Michael Jackson on February 26, 2009. It was a phone call. The doctor was aware that Michael was rehearsing because he mentioned it himself and he saw it in the press.
He was mostly in touch with Michael’s nanny Grace Rwaramba who functioned as a personal assistant and took care of the children. He had been in touch with her frequently – generally over the children’s issues, social issues and about how the children were doing.
Dr. Metzger personally spoke to Michael Jackson on April 18, 2009. He visited him at his home at his request. Michael had called him and asked him to come over to discuss several things.
Answering Chernoff’s question about the time of visit he said he had come definitely in the day time, early afternoon. (Does Chernoff imply propofol at night?) It was Saturday or Sunday. It wasn’t unusual for him to go to Michael’s home as he would want to see the kids and check up on them.
When he came to the house there were the three children there, Michael, some security guards whose names he doesn’t recall. Grace was not there. It started with Michael, himself and the children. Then the children went outside and Michael and the doctor had privacy in the living room.
Michael didn’t say that he was seeing any other doctors. They mostly discussed medical issues and the stress he was going through due to the rehearsals schedule. (So Michael was under stress because of the rehearsal schedule! They should have changed the schedule and there would have been no stress!)
Totally that visit took an hour and a half and the private conversation with Michael lasted 20-25 minutes. His state of mind was lucid. He was excited, he was talking of creative things that he was thinking about, he spoke to the doctor about his excitement and fear about the tour. His fear was that it was a big obligation and he didn’t want not to do the job with 50 shows.
“He realized that it was a huge ordeal to do that”, said Dr. Metzger. (This is why Michael was so much under stress and couldn’t sleep. And you remember who imposed those 50 shows on him. Will these people ever answer for what they did to Michael?)
He believed that he was up to the task but he was also fearful about his nutritional state, staying healthy. They discussed some of the things the doctor had worked with him years ago, for example health food. They talked about hydration and some things to do before and after performing.
They didn’t talk about injuries because he was doing very well with his chronic back issues. It was mostly nutrition and hydration.
Dr. Metzger cited his records which read that they had “discussed physical and emotional strain from the forthcoming concerts rehearsal schedule, his nutritional and hydration state of health and the stress related to his profound sleep disorder”.
Michael Jackson had brought to the doctor’s attention his sleep disorder many years before that. He knows that for 15-20 years sleep was an issue, particularly after performing – he could not calm down.
Chernoff asked, “Was it a problem he was experiencing on tours or on a regular basis?”. Dr. Metzger replied that he was familiar with the problem when he was on tours and when he was with him. And he treated some sleep issues over the years. He said that he had traveled with Michael Jackson. (Frankly, from the look of Dr. Metzger I would not expect him to have given Michael any propofol on those tours).
Chernoff asked if during their April 18, 2009 conversation Michael mentioned any specific medicine that he hoped to obtain for these sleep issues? Dr. Metzger said that he asked him about intravenous sleep medicine.
“Did he happen to mention the name of this medicine?”
Dr. Metzger said that he thinks he used the word “juice” (did Dr. Metzger mix it up with the word he heard during the 2005 trial?). He said that Michael had not used the name of a specific medication. He thought it could be an IV Valium, it could be an anesthetic drug – he was not sure what he was asking. Dr. Metzger said that Michael didn’t believe any oral medicine would be helpful.
He clearly remembered from his personal experience that many medicines just did not work. He had personally tried him on Tylenol PM in the past. They had tried Xanax to help his anxiety and help him go to sleep and on that visit on April 18th he tried other medication – he gave him Clonapam or Trazadone to be used not together.
Michael wanted some form of anesthetic (but did not name Propofol). Dr. Metzger was aware of Propofol but not about all the subtleties of that medication. (By the way Dr. Metzger looks quite convincing while saying all that).
He didn’t recall referring him to any specific anesthesiology clinic whatsoever. Chernoff asked him about Dr. Randy Rozen who is a pain-management physician. Dr. Metzger had worked with him over the years with Michael in terms of pain management. Most of the time it was chronic back sprain, and mostly from overwork practicing, performing and on a couple of occasions he had injuries.
As to Dr. Randy Rozen’s specialty maybe he is an anesthesiologist by training, said Dr. Metzger. They worked together specifically for pain management. Now Dr. Randy Rozen is involved with a group of physicians who, to Dr. Metzger’s knowledge, do outpatient pain procedures in their suite.
“During you conversation on April 18 did Michael Jackson tell you that he was visiting Dr. Arnold Klein?”, asked Chernoff.
“I presume that he was seeing Dr. Klein frequently for dermatological treatment. Most of the time Michael was having mild dermatologic procedures, minor cosmetic issues and his treatment of chronic vitiligo and other skin issues with Dr. Klein.”
“Did he ever mention taking you to London?”
“No”.
But he did mention the need to have a doctor in London. Dr. Metzger explained why – Michael was concerned about hydration, he was concerned about sleep and he was concerned about injuries. He didn’t ask for any referrals – Dr. Metzger said he didn’t know any practicing physicians in London.
“You didn’t give him any other advice other than Clonapam and Trazadone?”
“I couldn’t give him any other advice”.
“You didn’t provide him with any IV medication?”
Chernoff seemed to have a hard time with Dr. Metzger
“Definitely not. I did not provide any intravenous medication to Michael Jackson”.
“Ever?”
“I would say ever”
“In the 15 years you have never provided any intravenous medication of any sort?”
“That is my testimony”.
After the April 18 meeting Dr. Metzger left and didn’t have an occasion to speak with Michael Jackson again. He gave him instructions about the medication prescribed and asked him to get back to him to tell which medication was helpful.
“During the 15 years did you keep medical records?”
“I have 5 pages of medical records since 2002”.
At cross-examination Walgren asked Dr. Metzger if he explained to Michael that intravenous sleep medication was dangerous, life-threatening and should not be done outside the hospital setting. “That’s correct”. He asked the doctor if he had ever given Michael Jackson Propofol. He said “Never”.
“Is there any amount of money that would have convinced you to give him intervenous propofol in his house?”
“Absolutely not,” Metzger answered.
At redirect examination Chernoff asked a logical question, “You said it was dangerous, but you had no idea what medicine he was referring to?” But Dr. Metzger again looked convincing when answering: ” Any intravenous anesthetic should not be given in a home”.
“So Michael Jackson said “Anesthetic”?
Dr. Metzger said, “Or intravenous sleep medication”.
“Which one?”
Dr. Metzger put on his spectacles back, looked through his papers and said,”In my records I said, quote, “intravenous sleep medication. My notes say “sleep medication” and anything intravenous was unsafe. I don’t recall getting in any more detail”.
It seemed to me that Chernoff had a hard time with Dr. Metzger.
Here is what papers say about Dr. Matzger’s testimony:
“Focusing on advice he gave Michael Jackson, Dr. Metzger was very clear that he didn’t give any advice for any intravenous sleep medicine to the entertainer either. It was obvious his practice was very strict in making sure the advice he gave didn’t violate any standards of care he assumed were part of his job” http://www.examiner.com/celebrity-headlines-in-national/michael-jackson-s-sleep-issues-dr-alan-metzger-says-no-intravenous-anesthetic#ixzz1bnqhBFJu
The defense called Metzger in an apparent effort to show Jackson was seeking — and getting drugs — from other doctors at the same time Dr. Murray was working as his full-time physician.
The judge stopped the defense from asking Metzger questions about Jackson’s visits to Dr. Arnold Klein, the dermatologist who gave Jackson Demerol injections during frequent visits to his Beverly Hills clinic in the months before his death.
Deputy District Attorney David Walgren used the defense witness to make the prosecution’s point that using propofol outside a clinical setting is unacceptable.
* * * * *
I didn’t have many notes on nurse Cherylin Lee, so here is some information from papers about her testimony:
The defense then called Cherilyn Lee, a nurse who practices nutrition and natural remedies, who testified that she worked with Jackson to help his fatigue and insomnia from February through April of 2009.
After two months of using IV infusions of vitamins, “sophisticated” vitamin smoothies and bedtime teas, Jackson began asking for more help, Lee testified.
“His complaint was ‘I have a problem sleeping and all the natural remedies and everything you’re doing is not working,'” she said. “When I need sleep, I need to go to sleep right away.”
The court session ended just before defense lawyer Ed Chernoff could ask Lee to describe what kind of help Jackson was asking for, but the nurse previously told CNN that he requested propofol.
“I told him this medication is not safe,” Lee told CNN on June 30, 2009. “He said, ‘I just want to get some sleep. You don’t understand. I just want to be able to be knocked out and go to sleep.'” http://www.click2houston.com/news/29566931/detail.html
Next up was nurse practitioner Cherilyn Lee, who became a public figure with her press appearances shortly after the singer’s death. With some hesitation, Lee was led laboriously by Chernoff through the history of her involvement with the singer in early 2009, when she was making numerous visits to his home and giving a fatigued Michael natural, IV–delivered therapies such as the mineral-rich health concoction, “Myers’ Cocktail.”
Lee testified that Michael began complaining about having difficulty sleeping, and after she administered a number of all-natural remedies to the singer, Jackson lamented that they were ineffective. “When I need sleep, I need to go to sleep right away,” Lee recalled him telling her. Lee suggested that Michael undergo a sleep study, but “he said he didn’t have time for all that,” Lee testified.
Lee’s testimony ended on something of a cliff-hanger, as she told the court, under Chernoff’s questioning, that Michael mentioned a medication to Lee. However, court adjourned for the day before Lee could state the specific medication that Michael inquired about.
http://www.jackson-source.com/news/640-conrad-murray-on-trial-day-15-oct-24
While looking for information about Cherilyn Lee’s testimony I accidentally came upon the following smashing news about Dr. Paul White. This definitely shows us what kind of an expert he is:
The good old doctor is swearing in court?
The defense is expected to call 16 witnesses in all this week, including an expert in anesthesia, Dr. Paul White, their star witness.
White, however, has already been heard from during the trial, when he was chastised by Judge Michael Pastor for talking to reporters about the trial.
E! online reported that Murray could be heard whispering loudly to the possible witness, Dr. Paul White, “Can you believe that?” in response to the testimony of Dr. Steven Shafer, a witness for the prosecution. In response, White allegedly turned to journalists and said, “What a s***bag.”
It was unclear whether White was referring to Shafer or prosecutor David Walgren.
Pastor scolded White for his remark and set a Nov. 16 hearing date to determine whether White should be held in contempt of court.
* * * * *
Day 17. Tuesday, October 25
Here are some of my notes about Cherylin Lee two days’ testimony.
At the beginning of her testimony on day 17 family nurse practitioner Cherylin Lee asked to excuse her for a few minutes as it was hard for her to talk. The court waited for her for some time. I noticed that she felt more comfortable when answering Walgren’s questions than Chernoff’s.
She first came to Michael Jackson’s house when the kids had a cold on January 29, 2009. The same day Michael spoke to her about his health and said that he felt tired. On February she returned to the house, did a physical exam and an interview – Michael answered some 200 hundred questions. He noted that he had lupus and vitiligo.
Michael talked to her about concerts and dehydration – during the show he would lose so much liquid that people had to mop the floor from sweating. He would sweat so much that he would lose 3-5 lbs .
(This is 1,5-2,5 kgs! And we never guessed. We thought that for him it was easy! And after concerts like these he gave away all his hard earned money! He gave away all the proceeds for the Dangerous tour to charity).
Her impression of Michael Jackson was that he was very healthy. But he was drinking too much caffienated Red Bull and she advised him against it. He answered, “Whatever you tell me to do I will do. I want to stay healthy”.
She also advised him that his sleep patterns should be remedied – he used to go to sleep with music or movies on. She said he was putting so much energy into what he was doing that it was difficult for him to turn off.
Initially she treated his fatigue only . She gave him IV injections of vitamins, magnesia, some amino acids and other natural components which are practised by holistic medicine.
The Dictionary says:
- Amino acids are small molecules that are used as building blocks for all proteins. Some amino acids are also used in the body for the manufacture of hormones. There are about 20 nutritionally important amino acids, including glutamic acid, glycine, methionine, lysine, tryptophan, serine, and glycine.
- Holistic medicine refers to alternative health practices that claim to treat “the whole person.” To holistic practitioners, a person is not just a body with physical parts and systems, but is a spiritual being as well. The mind and the emotions are believed to be connected to this spirit, as well as to the body. Holistic practitioners are trulyalternative in the sense that they often avoid surgery or drugs as treatments, though they are quite fond of meditation, prayer, herbs, vitamins, minerals and exotic diets as treatments for a variety of ailments.
Prior to that and in the process of treatment she meticulously recorded all Michael’s vital signs, his lab tests, her observations of him and plans of treatment.
The meetings were held on February 2, 3, 16, March 9, 13, 16, 20, 24, 26, 31. Michael felt better and was full of energy.
Only on April 12, 2009, which was Easter Sunday, the issue of poor sleep was raised for the first time. This is when she discussed the “sleep hygiene” and told him about every natural remedy for sleep. He said that he had tried everything and it didn’t help.
On April 19 he complained that his energy was great but he could not sleep. That day he mentioned to her Propofol. She didn’t know what it was, went out of the room and called a doctor she knew. He explained to her that it was an anesthetic which was not safe to use at home.
She returned to him and related what the doctor had said, but Michael said doctors had told him it would be safe. He only needed to be monitored while he slept. On the night of April 19 she stayed with him to note his sleep pattern. By 12.15 he was asleep but at 3 in the morning he woke up. He was happy that he could sleep a little longer this time.
He asked her, “Can you find me someone to help me to sleep?”
She looked up propofol in the Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR) and found a great deal of its side effects – dizziness, agitation, chills, shivering, trembling, memory loss. She told him about those side-effects, especially the memory loss and said he could forget lines. He answered that he would never forget the lines.
He repeated that doctors told him that it was safe – as long as there is a doctor beside him who will monitor him with the equipment. (By the way I agree, if all the equipment is there and the doctor is qualified and has a back-up in case he has to leave the patient – it is indeed safe. All experts say that it is if used under proper setting).
She heard from Michael again two months later – on June 21, when his assistant called and said that Michael wanted to see her. In the background she could hear Michael saying, “Tell her what is going on with me. Half of my body is cold, and the other is hot”. She said that he needed to go to the hospital. It reminded her of the symptoms she had read in the PDR and she thought that they were related to the central nervous system problems.
On July 9 she was interviewed by the police.
My personal opinion is that with that makeshift IV stand for administering propofol and in the absence of a proper dosing propofol infusion pump Murray was heavily overdosing Michael. He could have been sending him into coma every night without Michael not even knowing about it. And if Michael’s breathing stopped every night as it does when the usual sedation level is exceeded and there was no adequate help, it means that he was also dying every night for those two months running.
* * * * *
Amir Rubin is the UCLA hospital Chief Executive Officer. Why he was called by the defense is not clear because he didn’t see much and was mostly speaking about the way they handled Michael’s death from the point of the media, security problems, conference rooms provided to the people present. The only important issue was Murray’s demeanor which Amir Rubin observed “distressed” and the fact that Murray was making a comment on the press-release handed out by the AEG people to him, Jermaine Jackson and some others.
Conrad Murray added to the press-release that the cause of death was not known.
Answering Walgren’s questions Amir Rubin said that the news of the death was broken to Katherine Jackson by Dr. Cooper. He said the anguish of the mom hearing about her son’s death is not a good thing to hear.
* * * * *
I am having a problem with Randy Phillips‘s testimony because he told so many lies that repeating them would be equivalent to promoting them.
However some points are interesting to note.
The first negotiations about the shows took place in 2007 after a call from Michael’s lawyer Peter Lopez. There was no resolution after that meeting as it was “relatively apparent” to Randy Phillips that Michael Jackson was not ready to go on stage.
The next contact was in August 2008 when Tom Barrack of Colony Capital contacted Phil Anschutz of AEG. Colony Capital is a private equity fund who had bought a note (I may have misunderstood the word ) on Neverland from the company called Fortress.
“What does it have to do with the concerts?” asked Chernoff (objection from Walgren, sustained).
The same week of August 2008 the Colony Capital people set up a meeting for Randy Phillips with Dr. Tohme who introduced himself as Michael’s manager. Tohme said Michael wanted to restart his career, part of it being touring live and part of it being putting out new music during the course of the tour.
The follow-up on that meeting were phone conversations, meetings, negotiations – all of them with Dr. Tohme and two attorneys – Dennis Hawk and Peter Lopez.
- Nota bene: Dennis Hawk was Dr. Tohme’s attorney while Peter Lopez represented Michael Jackson. Sometime in January 2008 Peter Lopez was dismissed from the negotiations over AEG, but continued representing Michael in other matters. Dennis Hawk remained the only lawyer in the deal. In May 2010, approximately a year after Michael’s death, Peter Lopez allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself but there was no note or weapon found beside his body.
Randy Phillips personally met Michael Jackson in September 2008. “It was me, Dr. Tohme and Michael”, said Randy Phillips.
The plan was to start in London on O2 arena and do a “residency show”. They called it the “mountain going to Mohammed – instead of the artist touring with 20 trucks and all the expense of that, getting fixed to one venue and then advertising it around the world. Obviously it takes a very special artist to be able to do that”. It could be the first phase of what could have been a multitour plan.
- Nota Bene: AEG’s so-called contract names “the world” as the “territory” of the contract, so travelling around the world was an option. The papers said that all expenses were placed on Michael’s shoulders and Randy Phillips is not telling us everything there is to tell here.
In 2008 it became apparent to Randy Phillips that Michael Jackson was motivated and receptive to the idea of the concerts. After that they had a number of meetings, all held at the Bel Air hotel. Randy Phillips said that they never discussed money with Michael [so they discussed it only with Tohme Tohme!]. “Those negotiations were done separately and the meetings with Michael were more creative”.
In October 2008 in the Bel Air hotel he met Tohme, Michael, his children wearing Halloween costumes and their nanny. When asked where Michael was living at the time he said he didn’t know. At that meeting Michael explained why he wanted to restart his career. The primary reason was that he wanted to finally settle down, and get a really good home for the kids who were living like vagabonds.
When Michael said he was tired of living like that he got emotional, according to Phillips. He says that he cried listening to Michael and Michael cried too.
It was the last meeting before the lawyers ‘got involved with the numbers’. The contract was prepared and signed in mid January.
- Nota Bene: There are huge doubts that the AEG paper can be legitimately called a contract. At the most it is a letter of intent stating the intentions of the parties to make a definitive agreement. And the signatures under that letter do not match each other. For details please go to this or this post.
Phillips said the ‘contract’ was signed in January 2009 in the house Michael Jackson had moved into which was some time prior to that. Michael ‘signed it personally’ and Phillips himself signed it for AEG.
I am finally beginning to see why Walgren objected to some of Chernoff’s questions. Numerous questions about where Michael lived before and when (and why) he moved into the house in Carolwood Drive may have been interpreted in multiple ways. So I am almost ready to forgive Walgren for objecting to the following questions from Chernoff though I would have loved to hear Randy Phillips answer them:
- How was AEG Live going to make money on this contract?
- What was AEG’s stake in the contract?
- Can you estimate what Michael Jackson’s stake was?
- Can you estimate how much Michael Jackson was making assuming successful completion of the shows?
- Did AEG Live pay for that residence?
- What would AEG get if the shows were cancelled?
Randy Phillips would have lied of course but his lies could have been very instrumental in showing what phenomenon Michael Jackson had to deal with in the face of AEG and their Randy Phillips. Despite all his lies we could have learned some truth about the events of June 2009 and the months prior to that.
Chernoff managed to have only one interesting question answered by Randy Phillips. He asked him whether Michael Jackson was to cover all production expenses for the show and Randy Phillips said “Yes”. This fully confirmed my own conclusions from AEG’s so-called contract – Michael Jackson was to cover all the expenses on the show!
The confirmation of this fact gives a new shade to AEG’s public tears that they were spending too much on the show and to Randy Phillips’s alleged worries about Michael not attending every rehearsal.
- Nota Bene: If someone wants to create a show and fully pays for it, will you worry whether he comes to every rehearsal or not? Especially when you know that the money he has borrowed from you has been insured by the debtor (and you are the beneficiary) and all of it is fully covered by all his belongings – his shares, his music catalog and rights to all his current and future earnings? And that you also have the man’s written promise to repay and if he doesn’t pay you at least one small installment you receive his everything and receive it irrevocably? Together with full rights over managing his estate in the future? (Please go to this post for details)
Even the little truth Randy Phillips provided in his testimony can give us some idea about the situation in the spring of 2009:
Randy Phillips said that there was no production on the concert tour from January to March 2009. “In March no production had not started. It didn’t kick into gear until sometime in April”.
- But this was too late a start for the show which was beginning in early July! AEG’s own contract said that the tour was to start on July 26 only, so why push the shows almost a month earlier and start selling the tickets in March when there was still no trace of the preparations done?
Philips said that in March “Michael and Paul Gongaware had a couple of meetings about the show, some production people were brought on board to help do budgets”.
By April Kenny Ortega had been the director of the show (the other director was Michael).
In April Michael Cotton, choreographer Travis Payne and other personnel were hired. Auditioning of the dancers began.
Randy Phillips said that he honestly didn’t remember when the rehearsals had started.
And I honestly cannot believe that with a tight schedule like that and only two months left before the beginning of the tour Randy Phillips was not concerned about the rehearsals and does not have an idea when they began. Each of us would have been a nervous wreck if we knew we were responsible for the show but rehearsals had not even started – though tickets for 50 shows had already been sold!
Now Chernoff and his medical experts are telling us addiction horror stories about why Michael could have had a severe anxiety and insomnia while the reasons are there on the surface for everyone to see – two months before the show the rehearsals had not yet started, the costumes, the stage props and special effects were still only an idea, and nothing was ready!
As far as AEG Live is concerned this type of neglect could be possible only if they didn’t give a damn whether the rehearsals or the tour itself took place at all.
Another aspect of the same problem is – if they themselves delayed the process by so long how could they later demand that Michael should rehearse every day to catch up with their schedule and make up for their mistakes?
It is no wonder that when Michael returned home from a rehearsal on June 24 he said to Murray that he was tired and added, “I AM TREATED LIKE I’M A MACHINE”.
Quote from Conrad Murray’s statement to the police
After Randy Phillips’ testimony AEG cannot even blame Michael for anything because even though Michael was visiting Arnold Klein’s office in March and April and could be probably too sedated for rehearsing, it still doesn’t explain why AEG was not hiring the production personnel and not doing anything serious until April or even May!
Later in the testimony Randy Phillips recalled, “I believe the rehearsals may have started in May, but I may not be one hundred per cent sure”.
According to Randy Phillips the conversation with Michael Jackson about a personal doctor also took place in late May. He said he never knew anything about Dr. Murray and had nothing to do with hiring him.
He recalled a meeting at the beginning of June when some “concerns” were expressed about Michael’s diet, etc. This is too mild a way of putting it – at that meeting they decided to play tough love on Michael and put Conrad Murray “into the fold” – his job was to make a strict schedule for Michael Jackson and ensure that he attended every rehearsal.
References to the first June meeting are found in the email Kenny Ortega sent to Randy Phillips early in the morning of June 20th. Here it is in case someone missed it during Ortega’s testimony on week 1 of this trial:
Randy Sat, June 20, 2009 at 2.04 am
I will do whatever I can to help with this situation. If you need me to come to the house just give me a call in the morning. My concern is, now that we’ve brought the Doctor into the fold and have played the tough love, now or never card is that the Artist may be unable to rise to the occasion due to real, emotional stuff. He appeared quite weak and fatigued this evening. He had a visible case of the chills, was trembling, rambling and obsessing. Everything in me says that he should be psychologically evaluated. If we have any chance at all to get him back in the light, it’s going to take a strong Therapist to help him through this as well as immediate physical nurturing. I was told by our Choreographer that during the Artist’s costume fitting with his Designer tonight they noticed he’s lost more weight. As far as I can tell there is no one taking responsibility (caring for) him on a daily basis. Where was his assistant tonight? Tonight I was feeding him, wrapping him in blankets to warm his chills, massaging his feet to calm him and calling his doctor. There were four security guards outside his door, but no one offering him a cup of hot tea. Finally, it is important for everyone to know, I believe he really wants this. It would shatter him, break his heart if we pulled the plug. He’s terribly frightened it’s all going to go away. He asked me repeatedly tonight if I was going to leave him. He was practically begging for my confidence. It broke my heart. He was like a lost boy. There still may be a chance he can rise to the occasion if we get him the help he needs.
Sincerely,
Kenny
Do you get the impression that Kenny Ortega is using expressions like “tough love” and “pull the plug” for the first time here? No, you don’t?
And our good old Randy Phillips lies in his testimony that he saw those expressions in Ortega’s email for the first time ever.
But Kenny Ortega says that playing tough love was the resolution of the first meeting they had approximately a week prior to June 20. That meeting was actually the moment when they decided to “bring the doctor into the fold” . My notes from Ortega’s testimony on week 1 of the trial explain what it was:
“The first meeting came as a result of Michael missing several rehearsals and the “playing the tough love” phrase refers to the resolution of that very meeting. In between the two meetings there was a series of conversations between Ortega, Randy Phillips and Paul Gangaware. Frank Dileo was not involved”.
But total misrepresentation of the “tough love” issue is not the only lie in Randy Phillips’s testimony. He also lies that:
- He left the second, June 20 meeting with Michael together with Ortega. Ortega does not confirm it – he himself stayed there for 10 minutes only (he was specially summoned to speak about his email) and then left, while Michael, Murray and Phillips remained in the house. This is important as we do not know why Phillips stayed and what further instructions he gave to Murray.
- Randy Phillips’s story about Michael wanting to do 31 shows is a lie. You just need to look up their ‘contract’ to see how AEG is twisting Michael’s hands in order to make him agree to that number. The only definite thing in the clause concerning the number of shows is that “in no event shall the number of shows performed by Artist in the first leg of the tour be less than 18”. The rest of it said that 31 shows were “pre-approved” only, and that it would be “unreasonable to withhold approval for adding shows” with a conclusion that “the parties agree to negotiate the definitive agreement expeditiously and in good faith”. And all this indefiniteness is presented as the agreed number of shows and an allegedly final contract?
- He also says that he first learned about Michael’s willingness to make concerts from his boss Phil Anschutz who told him to set up an appointment with Colony Capital (the ones who suggested a deal with Jackson). Previously Randy Phillips said that it was hard to persuade Phil Anschutz to go into this project as he is a “devout Christian” (implying that he was not willing to enter the project with a man who had been suspected of nasty things?).
- Randy Phillips is distancing himself now from the contract with Michael Jackson and says that he as the CEO of AEG discussed mostly creative work with Michael while Paul Gongaware did production (and probably the rest). And Gongaware as his co-CEO said that he was responsible for ticketing activities only and even did not see the final contract. Moreover Gongaware ‘wasn’t personally involved in contract making and had no personal knowledge of its clauses”. It is incredible, but now we cannot even find the Chief Executive Officer at AEG who discussed those criminal contract terms with Michael !
- Randy Phillips says he did not meet Murray or hear about him until late May. However the first version of the AEG contract with Murray was dated May 1, when Murray officially started attending to Michael. That contract version already incorporated most of the details including the kind of equipment to be provided by AEG. Let me also remind you that Kathy Jorrie, the hired lawyer drafting a contract with Murray, said in her testimony on week 1 that she had received a list of the equipment to be included in the contract from an AEG employee – so AEG was very well aware of their duties and I cannot believe that Randy Phillips as its CEO knew nothing about them.
- And what is your opinion about Randy Phillips’s sudden revelation during his testimony that on June 25 he learned about Michael’s death from Frank Dileo at 10.30-11.00? He says he grabbed his car and 15 minutes later was there seeing the paramedics truck leaving for the hospital, but it looks like Randy Phillips is just playing a “being forgetful” and “it was so much stress” cards to make people believe that he should be excused for such gross inaccuracies in his testimony.
In short Randy Phillips is telling us innumerable lies. And if he can lie like that under oath I am even afraid to think what amount of lies he was capable of telling to Michael Jackson!
Here are some more details about Randy Phillips’s interview from Wiki:
Brandon Keith Phillips is President and CEO of AEG Live, division of AEG, for nine and a half years. Has worked in the entertainment industry for thirty years. AEG are the owners and operators of the Staples Centre in Los Angeles and the O2 arena in London. Phillips is responsible for profit and loss, booking talent for tours, making sure regional offices function properly as well as festival division. Phillips represented Jackson as an agent/consultant as early as 1993. Saw Jackson next in a meeting in 2007.
Contract was drawn up and signed (in mid-Jan 2009) for thirty one shows; Jackson wanted to do ten more than Prince (artist) did. Chernoff asked questions about the finances of the contract. All questions were objected to and the judge sustained them. It was heard that ten shows went on sale first and the demand was “over the top”. “We had never seen that kinds of demand for tickets, it was obviously we would have blown through thirty one shows in the pre-sale and not had any for general sales”. Within twenty minutes Jackson agreed to more shows. Jackson said he wanted to do maximum fifty shows because he didn’t want a passport, didn’t want to live in London. He asked for a country house estate (16+ acres with running streams) so he and the kids wouldn’t be stuck in a hotel in London. He also wanted the Guinness World Records to be there at the fiftieth show. It was heard that Jackson was very firm about having his own (24/7) physician (Murray). It was heard that Phillips met with Murray and Jackson in early June 2009 to discuss Jackson’s health. Murray assured Phillips he was in great health and that Murray would look after Jackson’s diet. It was heard that Kenny [Ortega] told Phillips that he was concerned about Jackson’s focus in performances in a production of this magnitude. Phillips started seeing stress and pressure in Ortega towards the middle of June because of this. There was an issue of Jackson showing up for performances. Ortega said he needed to be there because he was the fulcrum, everything surrounded him in the production. Ortega scheduled a meeting for on June 20 would be about Michael Jackson’s tardiness/focus at rehearsals. It was heard that based on Kenny Ortega’s email, it was clear he felt this was an emergency meeting (over Michael Jackson’s ‘focus’). The meeting was with Murray, Jackson, Ortega and Phillips at Carolwood house. Ortega didn’t understand why Jackson wasn’t engaged like he thought he’d be, maybe there were health concerns. “Michael didn’t respond immediately. Murray spoke for Michael on the situation, guaranteed us that Michael would get into it”. Phillips attended rehearsal on June 23-24 to make sure everything was back on track. On June 25, Phillips went to hospital and stayed there the entire time Jackson was there. “I was there all day into the evening”. Murray was in “severe distress”.
* * * * *
I missed the testimony of the next witness on that day, Michael Henson and will rely on Wiki again:
The next defense witness is toxicologist Michael Henson, a tech operations officer at Pacific Toxicology. Defense attorney Michael Flanagan doing direct examination. Henson has known Flanagan since 2009, his company has worked with Flanagan for quite some time. Henson examined urine samples handed over from LA County Coroners Office he also provided defense testing for stomach content of Lorazepam.
It was heard that Dr. Shafer emailed Henson about what his standard operating procedure (SOP) was for Lorazepam results but he did not email Shafer back and contacted Flanagan instead. During cross examination, Walgren asked Henson why the People and the Defence have 2 different copies of lorazepam results. Henson said he did not know.
* * * * *
Day 18, Wednesday October 26
This was the day for the so-called character witnesses speaking for the defense. The dictionary defines character witness as follows:
- A person who testifies in a trial on behalf of a person (usually a criminal defendant) as to that person’s good ethical qualities and morality both by the personal knowledge of the witness and the person’s reputation in the community.
I clearly remember all five of them being invited by the highly enthusiastic Piers Morgan of CNN who devoted to them more time than any character witnesses who ever spoke for Michael Jackson. That program was repeated again and again until made you totally sick and tired of listening how good, kind, non-greedy and so on Dr. Murray was. Probably to them he was, but it doesn’t change anything as to his gross violations of duties to Michael Jackson!
And what does it matter that he didn’t take anything from his low-income patients? From Michael Jackson he wanted $5 million! And our Lynette has explained how else a doctor can make money if he works in a low-income community:
- There are other ways that a Doctor that serves these patients can benefit that people who work outside the medical community don’t know about.The biggest one is one of the many Student Loan forgiveness programs out there. Take for instance the fact that If I chose to I could submit my student loans to a program that allows me to work in a certain area like one of low income and in a certain field like mental health or geriatrics and in a given amount of time those loans will be forgiven if I just work there.I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal until I tell you that the average medical student leaves school with almost a million dollars in student loans.
Certain employers will cover those too but they can be more arbitrary in who they give this to. They can have some pretty strict criteria like your GPA and other things that so not everyone that goes to med school gets those. What people don’t realize is that a Doctor especially a specialist has ot pay not only for the four years of college, four years of general med school but their residency and fellowship.
That said that might mean that Murray may have taken advantage of one of those programs but I will add that that is not a reflection on him what so ever.
This information is again coming from Wiki.
The first witness is Gerry Causey, who lives in Cedar City, Utah. Causey has known Murray for 11 years, they met when he lived in Las Vegas, when Causey had a heart attack. “Murray made me sign some paperwork, some kind of release, then they took me to the operating room for an Angiogram. “During my procedure I didn’t want to be sedated. I saw everything on the screen. He always explained me everything he was doing”. He has been in constant contact with Murray ever since he was in hospital. They have remained friends. It was heard that they have remained friends because of the love Dr. Murray has for his patients. Causey has stated Murray is his “best friend”. Causey said that Murray was not greedy, he has never been, he would treat you regardless whether you had insurance or not. Murray broke down in tears when Causey said Murray would spend all time necessary with him, he would call his wife to explain problems. It was heard that Causey has given two TV interviews regarding Murray. He gave them free of charge “to help my friend”. During cross examination Causey said that Dr. Murray is known for “his compassion, his feelings, you can ask any of his patients, he’s the best doctor in the world”. “I don’t think he did what he’s accused of. From what I know, what I feel right now he didn’t do it”. Walgren asked Causey even if he knew Murray was grossly negligent if he would come and testify on the doc’s behalf – he said yes. Causey was excused and as he walked out he kissed Dr. Murray on the forehead and shook his hand.
Next to the stand was Andrew Guest, also a previous patient of Murray’s from Las Vegas. Guest described how he first met Murray and the procedures he went through for his heart. Guest said “that man sitting there is the best doctor I have ever seen” “I’m alive today because of that man”. It was heard that Guest did an interview, free of charge, with CNN because he believed Murray needed support and wasn’t getting a “fair shake”. Walgren asked “Nothing would change your opinion of that man would it?” “Correct”.
Next to the stand was Lunette Sampson. Another patient of Murray’s. She now lives in San Diego, but lived in Las Vegas for long time. Sampson had 2 heart attacks while in Las Vegas, Dr. Murray treated her. “I have never had a doctor that was more caring and thorough”. When asked if she thought Murray was greedy or was motivated by money she said: “I know Dr. Murray is not greedy or money-hungry. He is taking care of people pro-bono, people without money”. Sampson said Murray never once mentioned he was going to work with Jackson. “He told me he was going to take sabbatical for a year”.
Next called was Dennis Hix. He had heart problems and got stents, the last one around 2004-2005. Murray’s children’s were his neighbours. It was heard that Hix is a 66 and has gone to a lot of doctors and never had one who gave me the care he did. “I had insurance that ‘didn’t hardly pay for nothing’, he said he would help”. “When my brother saw I got the stents, my brother said he wanted some too. He had heart issues but didn’t have money for the procedure” “Dr. Murray told my brother not to worry about the payment that he would treat him for free. And he did.” Walgren asked Hix “When did you learn Dr. Murray was going on tour with Jackson? I didn’t even know it until I saw it on TV.”
Next to the stand was Ruby Mosley. She lives in Houston. She’s the secretary of Acres Home Citizen’s Council, a low income seniors community. Dr Murray’s father was a doctor in the Acres Home district. Dr Murray opened clinic in his father’s memory. “He made a committment to community to open a clinic in memory of his dad” (Dr Murray Senior was there from 1968 until 2003). Upon Chernoff asking if Murray was greedy, Mosley replied “if this man was greedy he would’ve not come to work at Acres Home, where 75% of people are poor, he was making less than in Las Vegas”. Murray treated Mosley for heart problems.
* * * * *
Day 19. Thursday, October 27
An important testimony came from the defense witness Dr. Robert Waldman, which is retold rather decently by Reuters:
Addiction specialist: Jackson dependent on Demerol, but not addicted
10/27/2011 | Bob Mezan, Reuters
The defense called its own addiction specialist to the stand in the Conrad Murray trial Thursday, but there’s a question as to whether he helped or hurt the doctor’s case.
Murray is on trial for the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson.
Addiction expert Dr. Robert Waldman took the stand, but – in what could be a blow to the defense – said Jackson was not necessarily addicted to the painkiller Demerol. The defense is hoping to prove that Jackson was suffering from Demerol withdrawal and could have self-administered a fatal dose of propofol so he could sleep.
But that theory was challenged by their own key witness while he was questioned by the prosecution.
“Would you diagnose Michael Jackson as addicted to Demerol, based strictly on these documents?” prosecutor David Walgren said.
“I would diagnose him as physically dependent and because the initial doses were high for somebody who may or may not have been opioid naive, it raises the specter and question of prior opioid use,” Waldman said.
“Let me try again. Dr. Waldman, would you diagnose Michael Jackson as addicted to Demerol based strictly on these documents in my hand, yes or no,” Walgren said.
“Probably not,” Waldman said.
Wiki summed up the doctor’s testimony as follows:
Dr. Robert Waldman, a physician specialising in Internal medicine, Nephrology and Addiction medicine, has been involved in addiction medicine and treating patients who have addiction diseases for 23 years butis not board certified in it. He described to the court what happens to a patient during addiction and withdrawal, including the tell-tale signs, the symptoms and the drugs that can be involved. Dr Waldman stated that the side effects of withdrawal of drugs are sweating, increase heart rate, nausea, cramp, insomnia, temperature deregulation and tremendous anxiety. It was heard that the addict’s biggest fear is that you’re not going to respect the amount of discomfort they’ll go through during treatment and detoxing process. It was also heard that rapid detox is not a treatment. It uses high levels of sedation intravenously and it is a process that uses general anesthesia to help tolerate the discomfort. It was heard that Dr. Waldman’s opinion is that there is evidence to suggest Jackson was dependent (not addicted) on Demerol (Pethidine) due to the frequent high doses he received in May 2009 indicated by Dr. Klein’s medical records of Omar Arnold (an alias of Jackson’s). It was heard that Dr. Klein’s medical records indicate that in April of 2009 Jackson received 775 mg of Demerol for Botox and Restylane procedures. During 3 days in beginning of May 2009, Jackson received another 900 mg of Demerol for Botox and Restylane procedures. Dr. Waldman said being injected during 6 days with very high doses of Demerol would create opioid dependency in anyone of us.
Our Lynette has shared her opinion about Dr. Waldman’s testimony:
“I watched today with anger that man, a supposed addiction specialist, say that he based his opinion on public information (i.e. gossip and a 17 year old admission of addiction) and what others told him. He admittedly said it was assumption not a medical opinion on outside unconfirmed information. He even speculated that Michael was doing street drugs by insinuating that the records he got were not complete. Jane valez Mitchell went after it like a bulldog and she just wouldn’t let go. It was 2005 and 1993 combined.
It seems like the wonderful Stacy Brown got information yesterday and sent a heartfelt email message to the Jackson Family and the fans stating that we are the ones that are trying to rewrite history when he clearly misstates that Michael had a problem since 1985.
I want to correct him with that. It was not the initial surgery but one that he had in 1991 with a balloon device inserted under his scalp to stretch the skin to enable the scar reduction that caused cranial facial nerve damage and led to severe migraine like headaches known as cluster headaches. These are the kind of headaches that cause people to lay curled up in a ball and scream and eventually they will become nauseated and throw up. They usually last for up to 24 hours without relief and leave the persons head feeling tender and sore to the touch. That would be ample indication for the administration of opiate pain killers nothing else would have worked.
That said once Dave Walgren got hold of the defense’s addiction specialist it was a whole different story. He became rude, insolent and had to be told to answer a question several times by Judge Pastor. Judge Pastor once even told him to tell the truth. Then we found out that once again they had a faulty chart the second time that a piece of evidence presented by the defense that had to be corrected by the prosecution.
He ended his testimony with Dave Walgren asking him if based on the records alone “Was Michael Jackson an addict?” and he said “No”. When Dave Walgren and Ms.Brazil left the courtroom for lunch they were met by a standing ovation. Congratulations Mr Walgren and Ms Brazil on doing your best to defend the reputation of the victim Michael Jackson and continuing to remind people that this trial is about a doctor that overstepped every standard of care and killed his patient.”
The defense made extensive use of Dr. Klein’s medical records and went over them page by page. The idea was to claim that after Arnold Klein started treatment of Michael’s facial scars in April and began administering Demerol as a painkiller, by May Michael had allegedly developed a tolerance as he had to be given a higher dose (300mg) than before (100-200mg). The fact that in June the dosages were dropped again first to 200mg and then to 100mg was explained by a further speculation that small doses were needed “to relieve the symptoms of a physical dependency” which in their opinion must have formed by then.
In short all of it was a huge pile of speculations where one assumption was based on another assumption but all were presented as if they were facts.
On March 12 two injections of Demerol were made 100mg each for procedures under the eyes
The truth is, however, that the amount of Demerol given was in direct correlation with the amount of work done.
Dr. Klein briefly mentioned it in his statement concerning his HIPAA violation complaint regarding the records of his former patient, Mr. Michael Jackson. HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The part of the report concerning Demerol injections says:
- First these records are not simply my records but that of three physicians treating Mr. Jackson: Myself, David Rish and Ilya Reyder.
Michael was treated by me to rebuild his face for the “This is It Tour.” Injection sessions to rebuild his face from the consequences of faulty plastic surgery took 3-4 hours and he was given Demerol for pain relief during these procedures.
Please note the entire month of May I was out of the country so injections he received during that time were not mine.
Addiction requires the frequency and dose of medication to increase. As my treatments with Michael became less lengthily the dose of Demerol that was used and the frequency of visits was greatly reduced.
The amount of work done on April 27 was bigger, so the painkiller amount was increased to the total of 300 mg
The figures that have been erroneously quoted to the public indicate a grossly increased frequency of visits and size of dose than that actually used.
Please understand what you have experienced and I have suffered is an attempt by the greedy parties responsible for Michael Jackson’s death to use me as a scapegoat. They have defamed my name and attempted to destroy me. My relationship with Mr. Jackson taught me many things one of which was the ability to survive. Now it is my turn to take action against the media and finally reveal the greedy and disgusting people who were truly responsible for Michael Jackson’s death.”
Among many other facts Dr. Klein mentioned that his associates who had embezzled his money and depleted his retirement fund had been contacted by none other but AEG:
- “It should be noted that Jason Pfeiffer, Muhammad Khilji with the assistance of Richard Charnley have embezzled over 12 million dollars from me leaving me in bankruptcy court. The have made illegal loans, stolen my identity, written checks, taken out loans, open and closed bank accounts, and depleted my retirement fund.
These individuals did this without my permission but I have reason to believe the concert promoter’s AEG is involved in that they have been in contact with Charnely”.
In an interview with Harvey Levin of TMZ in November 2010 Dr. Klein said that Demerol was a drug of his choice and that Michael never asked for it.
On May 19-20 Michael was treated by Dr. Klein’s colleagues. The notes are made in different handwriting
Klein had to use it because he was doing very painful procedures under Michael’s eyes. The slides of Klein’s records did indeed contain drawings with marks under the eyes. Klein said that he had sedated Michael to keep him from squirming during the procedures. In his interview with Harvey Levin he also spoke about it:
Levin …and you saw that he was a drug addict during periods of his life yet you prescribed Demerol numerous times…
Klein I never prescribed Demerol.
Levin You administered.
Klein I administered Demerol because you have to understand that the procedures I do are painful injections and I would give him…I would say I would take an hour-and-a-half to inject him and I would do somewhere around… oh, well over a hundred facial injections on him and unless I sedated him… He was very, believe it or not, needle-phobic when you got to needles on his face, and I mean, did you ever have injections in your face?
Levin Not really.
Klein Okay. It’s really a painful procedure, so, I mean, you had to stop him from squirming. You had to go to his eyes. The scalp injections were very, very painful, which I had to do because also I had to reduce a great deal of scarring on him. So what I used drugs for, it was not to give him drugs. I mean, I used drugs to relieve the pain when I did a procedure. So we have to make a big difference. If you’re having a surgical procedure, and these are really minor surgical procedures, with my length of time it takes for me to do it, it’s not minor, you have to use some amount of drug but when you look at how much I used, it’s not anything compared to the amount that some other doctors give. I didn’t give him bags of it to take home as some doctors do. …
Levin Did he ever ask you for Demerol?
Klein No.
Levin He never said, “I want Demerol”?
Klein No, because I wouldn’t give him what he wanted. You don’t give a person what they want.
Levin There was a lot of talk that Michael…it was almost the cart before the horse…that Michael would come to you for procedures, not because he necessarily wanted the procedures but he wanted the drugs that would put him under.
Klein No, because I did the procedures frequently with no anesthesia, I mean, no prior anesthesia.
…
Levin Did he repeatedly come to you and ask for drugs?
Klein No, not at all.
…
Levin My understanding of Demerol, correct me if I’m wrong here, is that it almost operates like a poison in the body, that over time it literally takes over the…
Klein Okay, I reviewed forty-eight articles on this. If you give me that statement and I reviewed it, I would say, contrary to what you say it’s non-toxic because what it has in the body are active intermediates and these active intermediates are non-toxic to the body if they’re done in a sterile fashion. What they do is they stimulate the body and that’s the good thing about Demerol, is Demerol becomes a stimulant once you give it to them, so they don’t have the narcotizing effect. It’s not like Morphine or Dilaudid or those drugs, and that’s what I like about Demerol. And also it’s active in the body over forty-eight hours, it’s about forty-eight hours it remains in the body so it takes a long time for the body to metabolise it but in all forty-eight articles on Demerol addiction, which I read very specifically, there was not any article about toxicity”.
All of the above means that Demerol was the drug of DR.KLEIN’S CHOICE and not Michael’s.
And he says it himself. ThereforeDr. Klein is taking all responsibility for those injections on his shoulders.
Dr. Klein could have shifted all the blame for Demerol onto Michael (same as Murray is doing it) – however he is not doing it and this is what makes me respect him and his words. It seems that he really wants to get to the bottom of the matter and also find out who was responsible for Michael Jackson’s death.
We can only welcome that.
* * * * *
Dr. Paul White has all the right credentials to put him on a par with Dr. Shafer in terms of his expertise.
Wiki summed up his testimony as follows:
Dr. Paul White, with an interest in intravenous anesthesia, started working with propofol in 1983, FDA approved it for general anesthesia in 1989. He has published 435 papers on PubMed. He has written about fifteen books, two are major textbooks. He has written five books on propofol, wrote twenty one chapters on propofol in various textbooks. After initial study showed propofol allowed patients to wake up sooner, went back to company and asked to do follow-up study. Dr. White said “Some people call me the father of Monitored Anesthetic Care (MAC) (Anesthesia awareness) sedation”.
“In January of this year, Mr. Flanagan contacted me and mentioned the name Conrad Murray. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get involved in a high-profile trial involving death of a celebrity. I was perplexed how experts determined that Murray was infusing propofol. It was not obvious to me.”
Dr. White met the Shafers in 1981, shortly after arrival at Stanford. They approached him about doing research. It was heard that Dr. White performed a study with animals, found that propofol directly into stomach has no clinical effect. Regarding the paper Dr. Shafer testified about a sleep study in China, Dr. White said “My take on the paper was different than Dr. Shafer’s. The study showed that propofol was safe and effective for normalizing disturbed sleep but it’s certainly not a definitive study.”
The above statement by Dr. White is probably the only one which I really liked as it showed that in a proper setting and under due monitoring Michael was right in expecting Propofol to normalize his sleep – it is only that he was born a little bit too early for that practice. The science will probably accept this method of treating chronic, severe and profound insomnia later, however at the time he was suffering from this type of insomnia the propofol treatment was denied to him.
Isn’t it surprising that even here Michael was a pioneer?
Dr. White explained that when Propofol was introduced its main purpose was deep anesthesia, however he tried this drug for minor sedation and found that it was an amazingly controllable drug which allowed a whole range of sedation – from minor hypnotic effect (reducing the patient’s anxiety and just making him comfortable with no sleep) to deep general anesthesia when the patient is no longer responsive to painful stimulus.
At the time he was trying this drug for conscious sedation Propofol had not yet been cleared for it (conscious sedation is when a patient is sleepy but is not fully knocked out), however after he turned over his studies to the producer the insert for the drug was corrected and the drug was approved for sedation.
Such experimental use of the drug is called “off-label” and means that an approved drug may be used for a purpose which is not indicated in the insert.
Flanagan developed this theme and wondered if it would be on-label to use Propofol for sleep in the hospital setting but would be off-label to use it at home? I need to check the video again but my notes do not say a flat “No”, so probably Dr. White agreed to it in some form or anotehr.
Despite the fact that it fully contradicts with the position of the Prosecution I still support the idea that if a proper specialist had administered proper doses of propofol with proper equipment and provided adequate care for Michael, it could have been a solution of Michael’s problem – even if it had the status of only an experiment. Needless it to say that in case of an experiment double monitoring was to have been done.
The defense and Dr. White want to create the impression that he is a pioneer in science while Dr. Shafer and other witnesses for the Prosecution are too conservative and are not keeping up with the latest trends. And though such an idea is unpleasant it is still within the range of the usual scientic debate.
However what is not part of true science is Dr. White’s own admission that he made a “speculation” over the possibility of oral administration of propofol as a cause of Michael Jackson’s death. He says he made this speculative remark because some propofol was found in the stomach – however when he read Dr. Shafer’s report he became aware that Propofol was 100% non-bioavailable (or cannot get into blood if swallowed).
Well, firstly, serious scientists never make any unsubstantiated “speculations” (this is totally non-professional) and secondly, Dr. White admits that a little of Propofol somehow did get into the stomach from blood. This is important, as in connection with Lorazepam he will say that there is absolutely no way Lorazepam could get from the blood into the stomach.
But if Propofol could, why couldn’t Lorazepam? After all both could get there with some blood during the resuscitaiton efforts, couldn’t they?
* * * * *
Day 20. Friday, October 28
All I’ll say about Dr. White’s speculations during that day is that he made a tale-telling slip of the tongue.
When making a very sloppy demonstration of some 50mg (5ml) of Propofol pushed into a tubing from a syringe (he couldn’t take 25mg (2.5ml) as all of it would stay in the tubing and would not even drip out) – so when making that demonstration he suddenly mentioned “THE CRIME SCENE”.
He didn’t notice what he said. There was a little bit of silence after which the judge asked to cross out the word “crime”. Dr. White apologized several times but looked embarassed as he unwittingly said what he really thought about Murray.
Just a few pictures. Please compare and find the differences:
the infusion port is 3 feet away from the catheter
Dr. Shafer uses the standard infusion set. It is not the exact equivalent of the one used by Murray (he couldn’t get it overnight) but is pretty close to it.
He shows that the infusion port is approximately 3 feet away from the catheter (the thing attached to Michael’s body). When you push 25mg through this part of tubing it practically fills the whole of it and hardly drips.
Dr. White injects 50mg into a very short tubing
The tubing used by Dr. White was extremely short and he was injecting a syringe filled with 50mg (5ml) of propofol and 50mg (5ml) of lidocaine, so it was no problem for it to drift through that tube.
…..
(sorry for not finishing it yet)
Vindicating Michael 
I meant Jackson’s personal assistant.
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Did Waldman really said that based on Klein’s assistant testimony, Klein didn’t give the full record.
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He said “crime scene” several times.
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A small thing about Dr. White.
During his speculations on Friday, Day 20 he made a tale-telling slip of the tongue.g
During his very sloppy demonstration of some 50mg of Propofol pushed into a tubing from a syringe (he couldn’t take 25mg as it would stay in the tubing and would not even drip out) – so when making that demonstration he suddenly mentioned “THE CRIME SCENE”.
He didn’t notice what he had said. There was a little bit of silence after which the judge asked to cross out the word “crime”. Dr. White apologized several times but looked embarassed as he unwittingly said what he really thought about Murray.
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Guys, if some of you are missing the point about Propofol here is a very short summary of Dr. Shafer’s proof of Murray’s guilt:
– the key fact upon which all scenarios are based is that the level of Propofol in Michael’s blood was exceptionally high
– even if you give huge doses of Propofol it won’t show in post-mortem blood as during the infusion the heart is beating and is taking it away from the system
– even a huge dose of Propofol will disappear from the body within 5 minutes
– if breathing stops the heart goes on beating for 10 minutes
– during these 10 minutes almost all Propofol evaporates from the system
– so the only way it can accumulate in the blood is when it pours into a dead body, the body of a man whose heart stopped
– only then Propofol does not break up and starts accumulating
And this means that Murray left Michael unattended, didn’t notice when Michael died and allowed Propofol to pour into him after death.
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@ Deborah…
“White, a complex character with his own deep motivations — will be ready for him.”
Yes, it seems the deep motivations stem from extraneous personal/professional connections between himself and Dr. Shafer. It seems there is much more going on of which we are unaware regarding their past interactions.Obviously this trial is too important to be bringing in personal fodder; although I am afraid they are. Their motivations are concerning. What are your thoughts?
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I am going to be devestated if Murray walks. Deputy District Attorney David Walgren will have to give the cross examination of a lifetime against Dr. White (the father of propofol) . By this time next week we may have a verdict, or on verdict watch.
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Guys, I’ve added a small portion on Dr. White to week 5 and a bigger one to Dr. Shafer’s testimony on week 4.
To be able to see what Dr. White is doing we need to study very well what Dr. Shafer said.
Here is his comment on the charts (slightly shortened).
The 1st simulation was based on Dr. Murray’s statement that he had given only 25 mg of Propofol. This one is needed for comparing with Dr. White’s version as he claims that the 25mg bolus was lethal for Michael Jackson. Well, even if Michael could draw it into a syringe – with no needle as there was none found – and could mix it with lidacaine and leave no fingerprints at that, you can also see that it does not reach the levels of propofol which were in the blood on autopsy).
Here are Dr. Shafer’s models (the pictures are in the post).
THE 25MG SCENARIO:
Its bottom horizonal line shows time and is marked in minutes. The vertical line shows the concentration of propofol in the blood. The central green horizontal line shows the amount of propofol found in Michael Jackson’s femoral (peripheral) blood after his death (2,6 mcg measured on autopsy).
Below it is another horizontal line called “apnea threshold”. It shows Dr. White’s number of 2,3 mcg as the concentration of propofol in the brain where half of patients will be apnic (not breathing).
The assumption is made that 25mg of propofol are injected as a bolus (pushed at once). At the moment of the injection the concentration of propofol in the blood is very high. This concentration descends incredibly fast.
However it takes time for propofol to get into the brain. (The level in the brain is the one which will stop breathing). So the level there gradually rises and in two minutes reaches a peak. After the peak the brain level of propofol falls slowly.
However in this scenario the brain concentration does not even remotely reach the apnea threshold at which breathing stops in half of the patients (according to Dr. White’s figures).
Then Dr. Shafer adds two standard deviations in two directions (from Dr. White’s work). Below the edge of this range no one will be apnic. Above the upper edge of that range everyone will be apnic (nobody will be breathing).
And this new addition shows that even with this small dose a very small fraction of patients will be at risk . The risk arises when propofol reaches a peak concentration in the brain (the period of 0,5- 2,5 minutes). After 3 minutes there will be no more risk again and everyone will be expected to breathe.
Dr. Shafer says, “This is why I say that there is no such thing as a small dose of anesthesia. Even with this small dose there is some risk”.
But then Dr. Shafer says that the scenario of only 25 mg given is not what really happened to Michael Jackson. Even if he stopped breathing at the peak brain level, his heart would go on beating due to oxygen in the lungs for some 10 minutes more. During this period the concentration of propofol would go on falling and at the time of death its level would be vanishingly small – many times as low as the level actually found in his femoral blood.
Dr. Shafer said: “So this did not happen. Michael Jackson received more than 25 mg”.
The second simulation model was made on the assumption that Michael Jackson received 50 mg of propofol by IV.
The way Conrad Murray described giving propofol he took a syringe and filled it with propofol and lidocaine. The description in his police statement said that he was using equal mixtures (the words 1:1 showed up in the interview). Therfore a 10cc syringe would have 5cc of propofol (5ml=50 mg).
Dr. Shafer suggested a simulation for 50 mg of propofol administered by a syringe on the assumption, firstly, that it was done as a bolus (pushed all at once) and only propofol was used (lidocaine was disregarded).
In the model provided the propofol in the blood initially rises so high that it doesn’t even show in the diagram, but then it goes down quickly.
The brain level of propofol (the one which actually gives a signal to stop breathing) also rises quickly and when it reaches its peak level most patients will be expected not to breathe. Within 5-6 minutes after that it goes low enough for you to expect patients to be breathing again.
It is quite likely that Michael Jackson would have stopped breathing with this dose because there were so many other drugs he had already received from Dr. Murray. This would have happened in the period of 1-4 minutes after receiving the dose.
If he had not breathed for 3-4 minutes and had regained his breathing (due to resuscitation effort) Dr. Shafer expects Michael would not have sustained any brain injury.
After breathing stops, as an absolute minimum the heart would continue beating for another ten minutes. Provided the heart is beating there is still circulation and propofol is being metabolized. So the level one would expect on autopsy would be around 0,4 mcg which is only a fraction of what the coroner measured in Michael Jackson’s femoral blood.
Therefore this model rules out that Michael Jackson was given a single dose of 50mg of propofol.
The next scenario is that of Michael Jackson being given the entire 100mg (10ml) syringe of Propofol (without any lidocaine).
Under this scenario the brain level of Propofol will reach its peak almost immediately and all patients will stop breathing. This happens to all patients under general anesthesia and Dr. Shafer says he sees it every day.
If no ventilation had been provided the heart though would have stopped minimum 10 minutes later and by then the level of propofol in the blood would have dropped to 0,6mcg which is well below the level of femoral blood found on autopsy.
So even if 100mg of propofol had been given it would still not be the right scenario either.
The next scenario looked into was purely hypothetical as it supposed that the patient self-injected himself with 6 boluses of Propofol 50ml each.
Walgren wondered how one would inject himself with Propofol. It would be a time and labor consuming process as it is rather difficult to draw the drug into the suringe. Then some lidocaine should be drawn into the same syringe (to avoid the burning sensation) and then there are two possibilities.
Either the syringe is injected straight into the vein (but Michael Jackson had very poor veins – so poor that according to Murray’s statement he had to make an IV port under his left knee), or the syringe is attached to an injection port on the IV stand and the mixture is pushed into the tubing which then takes it to the body. This process requires time and a little bit of coordination to do. If the vein is missed the propofol will sting and will be extremely painful.
For this scenario to be realistic Michael Jackson would have had to wake up 6 times and reinjected himself. However even with 6 injections of 50ml the level of Propofol in his blood – after the heart stops after ten minutes – would drop and would not be any close to the level of Propofol in the femoral blood found on autopsy.
The next scenario was the same self-injection crazy idea, only with 100mg of propofol used. Rejected.
The next scenario is that of Conrad Murray repeatedly injecting Michael with 50mg of Propofol. Am not going to talk about it as Murray is simply too lazy for it, though this is the first scenario where Propofol in the blood could finally reach the number of 2,6 mcg/ml which was found in the blood on autopsy.
Finally Dr. Shafer said that he was able to come up with a scenario which was consistent with all the data available.
UNDER THIS SCENARIO THE PROPOFOL WAS ADMINISTERED BY A DRIP.
Assuming that the time of death was around 12 o’clock 100ml of Propofol started to be administered at 9.00 in the morning. It ran until 12 o’clock at which point all 100ml would have been infused into Michael Jackson.
Since the infusion is made slowly the concentration of Propofol in the blood and in the brain is growing simultaneously. In case of a bolus injection it is different – propofol rises in the blood, but it reaches the brain rather slowly.
Dr. Shafer says that for someone who does not understand the pharmacokinetics of Propofol after an hour of the infusion things will look pretty steady. However the situation is not stable because the levels in the blood and brain continue to rise. Propofol is filling up all compartments in the body and the apnic threshold is approached slowly.
What happens when the apnic threshold is approached slowly the rate of breathing slows down.
When we breath quickly we exhale less carbon oxide, when we breath slowly we exhale more of it. So if there had been capnography there it would have shown the rise of CO2 there.
CO2 is a very good stimulant for making us breathe – actually its lack is what makes us breath at all. Dr. Shafer conducted a research of this issue (2004) and made a mathematic model how Propofol and CO2 interact with each other (Propofol decreases and CO2 increases your desire to breathe).
So CO2 would make Michael go on breathing through the apnic threshold. Examination which would not involve capnography would probably suggest at this point that Michael Jackson is comfortably asleep.
However the propofol level is still going up and the CO2 cannot stimulate breathing any more and drawing closer to 12.00 pm it is no longer able to compensate for the level of Propofol which is accumulating in Michael’s blood. With that he starts to slow down his breathing to the point of apnia.
This slowdown in breathing could be detected. Initially through measuring the CO2 with capnography, and as the breathing was getting so slow that no oxygen was getting in, it would have been picked up by pulse oxymetry.
Murray could have even observed it physically, especially if the tongue was compromising the airway. Dr. Shafer said, “If he had been with the patient during that period of time he would have seen the slowing breathing. He could have easily just turned off the propofol infusion, raised his chin or in the worst case could have used the mask and ventilation and there would have been no injury to Michael Jackson”.
At around 11.45 the flow of oxygen into Michael Jackson’s lungs stops. Within 10-15 minutes the lungs no longer have oxygen for the heart and the heart stops too.
But Michael Jackson has died with the infusion still running and that is why the level of Propofol is so high in his blood.
As the infusion is still going and the heart is no longer working there is no opportunity for rapid metabolism of Propofol to occur and for it to drop in level. That is why the concentration in the femoral vein is absolutely consistent with an infusion of Propofol by a drip.
This is the only scenario which produces the femoral concentration of Propofol found in the toxicology report.
If the 100ml had run out but the heart had been still beating the level of Propofol would have dropped to the same low level as before within only 5 minutes. But it did not drop and this means that Michael Jackson died while the Propofol was still running into his veins – even after his heart stopped.
Dr. Shafer says that it fits with the description Conrad Murray gave as the usual way he administered Propofol to Michael Jackson – which was a drip. It is also consistent with the 100ml vials he had ordered and shipped. He ordered 130pcs of 100ml vials for a period of 80 days which suggests he could use one vial per night – with the rest left for the future).
And at some point he also left Michael Jackson in the room. He could not know that his breathing had slown down and that the level of CO2 was rising (he had no capnography). Having observed him for a period of perhaps an hour and thinking that everything was okay he walked out of the room – while the level of Propofol in Michael Jackson’s body was rising and reaching the critical level.
Dr. Shafer said:” I don’t know a single piece of data which is inconsistent with this explanation”
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“In addition all of his character witnesses know him as Dr. Murray not Carter.”
I know. I said it myself when I was more sceptical about this theory. But even this phenomenon may have an explanation.
Going under different aliases means that with some people you are Murray and with others you are Carter.
We have heard those who know him as Murray.
And all those character witnesses cannot outweigh the huge and heavy fact that he is using someone else’s certificate allowing to do mild sedation.
Even if he is Conrad R. Murray he is not Conrad W.Murray in whose name the certificate is.
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@vindicatemj
In addition all of his character witnesses know him as Dr. Murray not Carter.
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“you cannot use an alias in the court of law. Also Shelly provided his arrest warrant in 1994 with the name Conrad Muray on it.”
Then Conrad Murray was his first name (or probably one of his first) to which he simply returned.
However I thought it was pretty obvious for everyone that doctors normally don’t work under aliases. Or is it acceptable practice in the US?
Dr. Shafer aka Dr. White aka Dr. Rogers aka Dr. Steinberg?
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@Lynette
Yes you would improvise in the Congo because you don’t have a choice, but Murray was in Carolwood LA. Surely he could have purchase some propofol with the tab, but who knows. I am still so angry at the JA addiction expert, Murray and his whole defense team for trying to imply that Murray was playing hero – weaning MJ off of narcotics using benzos. Murray sitting there during the testimoniny looking all smug and laughing at the idiot jokes when 1 week earlier naked pictures of Mchael on a guerney were shown. Nobody has a clear picture of what happened because Murray is a liar.
As for the name change like I said that would have been brought out by Walgren,you cannot use an alias in the court of law. Also Shelly provided his arrest warrant in 1994 with the name Conrad Muray on it.
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I have an opinion about the origins of the MD for Murray and it sort of coincides with that hanging a vial in a bag.Not all vials have the lift here tab. Some do and some don’t.What that set up looked like to me was someone who had a background in working in a third world battlefield or refuge camp.I have worked in the Republic of Congo and have done similar things myself for different medications that come in a vial and if you have to hang something from a coat hanger or maybe even an electrical cord from the light in a tent or collapsable barracks.I think he may have had expirience in this type of work. I just cannot find any real history on him with photos to confirm it.Either way if he had any history of this he would just do it that way.
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The aliases story needs to be investigated by the appropriate agencies in U.S.It appears that this person,Conrad R. Murray has been very entrepeneurial on many fronts,just the sveral properties he or his wife
owns and are not in use for medical practices.And stating he has only 1 child,when there are 6.Also he aspired to have a half a mln dollar house in Las Vegas.-I did mention “fake” dr.This can be found out in connection with the aliases. He certainly had some medical background and in my opinion good dexterity,ie good in stuff like arts and crafts.
What is totally lacking is a holistic(and I don´t mean in the sense of holistic medicine)view of Physiology.This is something imprinted in the minds of medical students.Murray seems to have been good in doing cardiac stents,which does require a certain skill.Where and how he learned this I don´t know.And I can not with certainty call him fake, but he shares some features with such.Remember he was never a board certified cardiologist.”Fakes” are often skillful in some aereas of medicine but lack the complete view of the function of the human body.This was esp. prominent in murrays “treatment” of Michael.It is hard for me to fathom that someone with a legit.MD would take the risk that his s.c. treatment entailed.Also he operated in the dark, as far as I know he never took any blood or urine for examination in a lab.
Also he avoided contacts with other doctors, commonly done when several doctors are involved in treating the same patient.Well, ofcourse he must have known it was gross negligence all along.Someone with a solid medical background would know that nightly coma does not replace real sleep,and can ,as VMJ pointed out, lead to death at worst.
I feel a bit sorry for Dr Klein,being robbed by his own staff.It seems that just about nobody had clean papers in this sordid and tragic affair.Murray is guilty,but AEG is not less so..
Another matter, becoming friends with his patients!? It has been said you should never be the dr of your family or close friens,maybe exept small matters.He could easily have sent a urine anonymously or w. an alias for testing of opioids.A doctor should be curteous and respectful towards patients,but friends..?.
I do feel it would be wrong to let AEG go free of responsibility.
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The Robert Earl Carter story is out there since January 2010. He legally changed his name in 2009 & the girl who found out about this bought his public records from People Finders. The address mentioned in his records as Carter matched the address mentioned in the 2009 search warrant. She published that part of the record and I have seen it myself.
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David, it is okay, my memory and attention have also been impaired due to overwork and lack of sleep. This phenomenon is very well illustrated by the article I’ve just posted. Since it went as a comment to another post (and I’ve noticed it only now) I’ll repeat it here as this is where it truly belongs.
It was an answer to Linda who wrote: ” I just hear people saying he was just an addict, and brought about his own death”
And I said that I cannot believe that people can be so blunt and so cruel.
People don’t see the difference between drug-addicts who take Demerol on their own and do it for pleasure, and Michael who was administered it by a doctor – who chose this drug himself for doing painful procedures on Michael. Following these people’s logic if they are given similar medication due to their own health problems they may call themselves drug-addicts too.
Propofol is not a narcotic and does not develop an addiction, so this word does not apply here by definition. It was administered by a doctor and though its use (at the moment) is unconventional for sleep, the Defense’s main expert did not rule out that it was possible to use it for insomnia – it is called off-label use – only it should have been done in a proper setting. Again it isn’t Michael’s guilt that his doctor did it in the wrong way and was extremely negligent in administering this drug.
I am surprised that people are so insensitive to another person’s sufferings. They speak only of what Michael shouldn’t have done and don’t think of what Michael could have done in a situation when he could not sleep before or during his 50 shows.
Michael’s detractors are evidently unfamiliar with this problem and don’t know that total lack of sleep like Michael’s can cause DEATH.
Here is an article on Sleep Deprivation which touches upon shortened hours of sleep but also says that total deprivation may be FATAL. The only reason why no exact data is given is because no such cruel experiments were ever made:
“While some people may like to believe that they can train their bodies to not require as much sleep as they once did this belief is false. Sleep is needed to regenerate certain parts of the body, especially the brain, so that it may continue to function optimally. After periods of extended wakefulness or reduced sleep neurons may begin to malfunction, visibly effecting a person’s behavior.
The effects of sleep deprivation on behavior have been tested with relation to the presence of activity in different sections of the cerebral cortex.
The temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex is associated with the processing of language. In sleep deprived subjects there is no activity within this region. The effects of this inactivity can be observed by the slurred speech in subjects who have gone for prolonged periods with no sleep.
The frontal lobe is the most fascinating section of the brain with relation to sleep deprivation. Its functions are associated with speech as well as novel and creative thinking. Sleep deprived test subjects have difficulties thinking of imaginative words or ideas. Instead, they tend to choose repetitious words or clichéd phrases.
Also, a sleep-deprived individual is less able to deliver a statement well. The subject may show signs of slurred speech, stuttering, speaking in a monotone voice, or speaking at a slower pace than usual.
Subjects in research studies also have a more difficult time reacting well to unpredicted rapid changes. Sleep deprived people do not have the speed or creative abilities to cope with making quick but logical decisions, nor do they have the ability to implement them well.
Studies have demonstrated that a lack of sleep impairs one’s ability to simultaneously focus on several different related tasks, reducing the speed as well as the efficiency of one’s actions.
Part of the frontal lobe regenerates during the first stage of sleep (called REM stage), giving a person the ability to feel somewhat refreshed after only a short nap.
One of the symptoms of prolonged sleep deprivation is hallucinations. Metabolic activity in the prefrontal cortex can drop as much as eleven percent after a person has missed sleep for only twenty four hours.
As a person loses more sleep or continues to receive less-than-adequate amounts of sleep the neurons become even more taxed and the I-function may begin to generate even less coherent images possibly resulting in temporary insanity.
One of the possible side effects of a continued lack of sleep is death. …. One study stated that people who sleep less than four hours per night are three times more likely to die within the next six years.
Although the longest a human has remained awake was eleven days rats that are continually deprived of sleep die within two to five weeks, generally due to their severely weakened immune system.
Without sleep our brains deteriorate, and if the argument that brain=behavior is true, then our behavior will also suffer accordingly”.
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1690
Lawyer Michael Barnes said about people’s judgement in Michael’s case – “Public awareness has not yet caught up with science”.
I’ll put it in simpler terms – it is people’s ignorance, bluntness and laziness to learn more which allow them to make conclusions over things they have no idea of.
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@ Helena
Sorry about that! I forgot that you had that info about MJ’s scalp surgery included in your post from a few months ago.
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“I found yet ANOTHER great blog about the trial! It’s called “Please Sit Back And Relax”, and it’s written by Michael Barnes, a lawyer from Virginia, and the managing member of DCBA Law & Policy (a law firm). He has written numerous posts about the trial, and completely agrees that Murray is guilty and should (and will) be convicted.”
David, the blog is indeed great – thank you for adding it to our blogroll.
Here is another quote from Michael Barnes:
Conrad Murray’s defense attorney Ed Chernoff called witnesses to attest to his client’s skill and dedication to his patients. In doing so, Chernoff bolstered the prosecution’s case.
As a result of today’s testimony, jurors now know that Murray and his attorneys had to hire a public relations firm to find the witnesses who came to court today to defend Murray. Additionally, prosecutors may now add the following facts to the story surrounding the homicide death of Michael Jackson:
– Murray did not treat other patients for sleep disorders or drug dependence.
– When treating other patients in cardiology cases that required anesthetic medications, Murray knew well enough to do so in a hospital with professionals trained in anesthesia, and a “team” to back Murray up.
– Murray received a discipline letter from Sunrise Hospital in 2006 for not responding to calls and not showing up to care for patients.
– Murray’s low-income patient felt “in despair” when Murray left his practice to take a “sabbatical” to care for Michael Jackson.
Today’s theme: Self-interest and resultant absenteeism appear to be longstanding trends in Murray’s practice of medicine.
http://psbar.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/murray-defense-bolsters-prosecution-abandonment-theme/
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“Can you give us the source document of that information? Where did you read about that surgery at? I want to know about it in more details. Thanks!”
David, you can read the details about the balooon put under Michael’s scalp in my post (I thought you were reading them):
The post provides the only source I’ve found concerning this method of treating Michael’s baldness. It does not mention the baloon but now that we know about it from Klein and Nordahl it is clear that Dr. Hoefflin could stitch together only surplus skin which could be the result of its stretching. The baloon was used to stretch the skin.
This information was very scarcely reported in the press, and it is only Klein and Nordahl who are talking about it. There is no reason not to believe them – in fact David Nordahl saw that baloon with his own eyes.
Here is the article which started me on this track:
Michael Jackson’s hair loss – what happened to his bald spot?
The King of Pop once wore a very different crown and almost had it taken away. It’s hard to believe that Michael Jackson once sported a full afro and everyone’s probably also forgotten that he nearly went baldat 25 after a freak fire accident.
While filming a Pepsi commercial in 1984, pyrotechnics accidentally set Jackson’s hair on fire. He was rushed to hospital and treated for second degree burns to the back of his head which scarred his hair follicles and left him with a major bald patch.
When hair-bearing skin is badly burnt, the hair follicles are destroyed and replaced by scar tissue. The hair loss is permanent and known as cicatricial (or scarring)alopecia.
Jackson was singing his hit “Billie Jean” in a simulated concert scene when the special effects went wrong. Three thousand fans saw a firework display erupt behind the superstar, showering him in sparks and setting light to his hair. Jackson covered his burning hair with his jacket but some audience members thought it was part of the act.
Jackson later underwent 80 minutes of laser surgery to repair his scalp. His surgeon Dr. Steven Hoefflin, famously known as “Doc Hollywood” who Jackson formed quite an attachment to over the years, said he was able to stitch the wound without having to implant or transplant from other parts of Jackson’s head.
According to Leonora Doclis, senior trichologist at the Belgravia Centre, while laser surgery can make the scar smaller, it won’t help in generating hair growth from the scar.
“Apparently the laser treatment reduced the scar to palm-size, but that is huge,” Leonora says. “If the follicles are damaged they will not produce hair. It is very unlikely that his hair grew back after this treatment.”
This begs the question then – what happened to Michael Jackson’s bald spot? Leonora says treating cicatricial alopecia is challenging. “The best they can do without wearing a wig is if they can hide the scarred bald patch with their own hair.”
Cicatricial alopecia is a broad term that includes all forms of hair loss concerning inflammation directed at the hair follicle.
“There are several reasons for scarring hair loss. Scalding is just one and there is an autoimmune factor,” Leonora says. In addition to burns and other injuries, cicatricial alopecia can be caused by certain types of infections like granulomas, lupus erythematosus, recurring bacterial or fungal infections, a skin disease called lichen planus, and scalp ringworm.
“Therefore there is no point in transplanting hair from one side of the scalp to another when it can still be subject to an autoimmune attack.”
The progression of cicatricial alopecia as the result of an internal problem is unpredictable but hair loss is irreversible once the follicle is destroyed. Leonora says autoimmune suppressant steroids could be injected but they won’t prevent or treat hair loss.
Despite Dr. Hoefflin’s claims that Jackson’s scalp would be completely healedwithin several months, Leonora has her doubts over the authenticity of Jackson’s hair.
“I think he may be covering certain areas with a hair system (hairpiece),” she says.
And just so you know…
Back then, hair wasn’t Michael Jackson’s only concern – he’d already had two nose jobs by the time he was 25 and went for his third rhinoplasty shortly after the hair loss incident. From then on his visits with Doc. Hollywood became ever more frequent.
http://www.belgraviacentre.com/blog/michael-jackson%E2%80%99s-hair-loss-what-happened-to-his-bald-spot-084/
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Where is this speculation that Conrad Murray is not this man’s real name coming from? As far as I know you cannot use an alias in a court of law, I learnt that from the Casey Anthony trial. If Conrad Murray frequently switch between names it would have been brought out in court by Walgren.
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I have been urging Dr. Klein via Twitter to come forward with all of the information and I see that he finally has.I am so glad.when I first saw the bill which is what it was presented to TMZ I knew too that something was very wrong with it.I don’t know if any of you rememeber an earlier discussion on the blog where I stated that it look like he was overbilling.Well if they were overbilling one patient they were overbilling others as well.When you fraudulently charge someone for a service and mail that bill to their home it becomes a Federal Offense.The FBI would have been notified and probably were a long time ago.
The thing that people do not understand is in a medical office like Kleins you have a manager and business people that run the money side of it for the Doctor.A Doctor does not have the time or the inclination to sit down and review every bill that goes out of his office that just is not done.That is a job for an accountant and or office manager.So Doctor Klein was completely unaware of what had happened until it was all over and his money as well as some of his patients money was gone.
What we saw on television presented to us via Ed Chernoff were Nurses Notes not a medical record.they are the hard copy of what the procedure was, what was used and who was there ,how it was done, and how much was dispensed and who dispensed it.For each injection that is given a doctor goes in and looks at what he is going to do how much he would have to use and where he is going to use it and on who he is going to use it.He then writes and order for all of this.An individual order for each type of injection used.In Dr. Kleins case he also has to determine the size of the fine needle and how many fine needles would be used.He would have to have more than one for each area and each substance that was injected or in other words a new needle for Botox and one for the Restylane.
A medical record is something all together different.
So I wonder how much Harvey Levin paid for that or how much AEG paid him to do it?David I have to work overnight for the next 2 nights and then I will give you the sources of that information.Some of it are things I have surmised from the comments of others who saw and felt the baloon device and have elaborated on it.If I remember correctly one was David Nordahl.The sources for the headaches were actually news reports from Singapore I believe in 1993.The funniest or strangest part of this is that in 1993 the press and everyone thought Michael was faking his addiction to avoid coming back to the US.Now they use it to prove that he was an addict.What a group of hypocrites.
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Guys, I found yet ANOTHER great blog about the trial! It’s called “Please Sit Back And Relax”, and it’s written by Michael Barnes, a lawyer from Virginia, and the managing member of DCBA Law & Policy (a law firm). He has written numerous posts about the trial, and completely agrees that Murray is guilty and should (and will) be convicted. He can’t be pigeonholed as being a “crazy, rabid fan”, and his legal background gives him extra credibility. It’s too bad he isn’t covering the trial for any of the major networks!
I’ve added his blog to the blogroll. Here is the link:
http://psbar.wordpress.com/
Here is his twitter account:
http://twitter.com/#!/mcbtweets
Here is an excerpt from his latest post:
Wow! Very well said! Try hearing that from anyone on HLN! LOL!
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@ Lynette
I want to correct him with that It was not the initial surgery but one that he had in 1991 with a baloon device inserted under his scalp to strech the skin to enable the scar reduction that caused cranial facial nerve damage and led to severe migraine like headaches known as cluster headaches.These are the kind of headaches that cause people to lay curled up in a ball and scream and eventually they will become nauseated and throw up. They ususally last for up to 24 hours without relief and leave the persons head feeling tender and sore to the touch.That would be ample indication for the adminstration of opiate pain killers nothing else would have worked.
Can you give us the source document of that information? Where did you read about that surgery at? I want to know about it in more details. Thanks!
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I wonder how White is going to explain the lack of MJ’s fingerprints.
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Dial, thank you for Dr. Klein’s statement. I’ve been very much waiting for Klein to speak up and it is good that he is doing it.
“Once released my records have been totally misinterpreted. They have been used by TMZ, The Beast, Anderson Cooper and various other media sources to obscure the real facts and individuals responsible for Mr. Michael Jackson’s death.”
I can very well imagine that this was indeed so. My mistrust for some media sources and its selected individuals has reached such a point that if these sources or individuals start harassing someone in connection with Michael Jackson my reaction to it is the opposite – if they harass someone, then he is not to blame. (Similarly if Diane Dimond starts praising someone this is a clear sign that the person is not be trusted).
“First these records are not simply my records but that of three physicians treating Mr. Jackson: Myself, David Rish and Ilya Reyder. Please note the entire month of May I was out of the country so injections he received during that time were not mine . As my treatments with Michael became less lengthily the dose of Demerol that was used and the frequency of visits was greatly reduced. “
This is very important – good that he told us about it. The handwriting in some entries is indeed different. The other two physicians gave Michael bigger doses 300mg per day in May. And though it is still well below the maximum daily dose of 600 (800) mg a slight increase in dosing gave the defense “expert” a reason to say that Michael was developing a tolerance and needed more.
But in June the dose dropped to 200 mg again (this is evidently when Klein returned) – on June 1, 3 and 9 it was 200mg, and on June 16 and 22 it was 100mg. By now I’ve read some information on Demerol and it says that gradual reduction in the dose is needed to avoid any withdrawal symptoms when Demerol is being given. So the treatment was drawing to an end and the reduction in the dose was done quite professionally.
“The figures that have been erroneously quoted to the public indicate a grossly increased frequency of visits and size of dose than that actually used.”
Walgren did indeed cross out some of the visits on the chart. He also noted that Dr. White grossly misrepresented the figures of Midazolam. When only 1mg of it was taken White presented it as if it were ten times as much.
“My relationship with Mr. Jackson taught me many things one of which was the ability to survive.”
I like this statement as it is a tribute to Michael and his stoicism.
“Jason Pfeiffer, Muhammad Khilji with the assistance of Richard Charnley have embezzled over 12 million dollars from me leaving me in bankruptcy court. … These individuals did this without my permission but I have reason to believe the concert promoter’s AEG is involved in that they have been in contact with Charnely.”
A contact between AEG and Klein’s assistants? VERY interesting indeed. If AEG people want Klein’s ruin, then they must be at one with his enemy – Conrad Murray, who is trying to shift all the blame to Klein.
I hope that in the future we will find out whether Klein was guilty or not for choosing Demerol over other painkillers and administering it to Michael so often, but at the moment what interests me more is that AEG evidently wanted to destroy klein as Murray’s opponent. And if they wanted to destroy Murray’s opponent, it means they are friends with Murray.
I hope Klein has proof that AEG was in contact with this guy Charnely. Is he his accountant or what?
“Now it is my turn to take action against the media and finally reveal the greedy and disgusting people who were truly responsible for Michael Jackson’s death”.
This I support with both of my hands. If he manages to find the truth I will very much welcome it. As I said on numerous occasions it doesn’t matter from which direction the truth comes. And it will be no less valuable if it comes from Arnold Klein. I wish him luck.
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Vmj, I will only address the Bridgeport news in this post. The possible fake identity and fake doctor matters will require more thought. I am too tired for that now.
Brigeport News report that attn.Koskoff of Koskoff,Koskoff and Bieder of Bridgeport has joined Panish,Shea and Boyle LLP in representing the family in civil suit against AEG Live and LLC This because AEG has tried to separate themselves from murrays actions that led to Michaels death.The civil case was filed in LA county with Superior Court with a request for trial.I hope they succeed and that more lawfirms will join.
People mentioned include attn Flanagan and Judge Pastor.
This trial is followed world wide and it will be shameful if there are any improproprieties.Also I feel bad for the children and family if murray gets off or only serves a few months.There may be more foul play than we suspect.
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Despite the wealth of information here that demonstrates the jury, court and observers of this trial are being led on a speculative wild goose chase by the defense, this much is clear:
If this comes down to a battle of the experts, that is pretty much the definition of ‘reasonable doubt.’
The stakes are set for Monday’s cross and Walgren will need clarity and fight to when he goes head to head to Dr White. Walgren will need to deal with the addict ‘red herring’ unflinchingly — and destroy it.
White, a complex character with his own deep motivations — will be ready for him.
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Received this twice today. A friend asked if I would post for your scrutiny.
(NOTE: I do not support any claims to the validity of the complaints or persons providing this information)
Arnold W. Klein, MD
Professor of Medicine and Dermatology
UCLA
Klein Chair in Dermatology UCLA
Consultant to the General and Plastic Surgery Devices Panel of the FDA
“The Most Innovative & Famous Cosmetic Dermatologist in the World”
Bev Hills Times Magazine
Subject: Hipaa Violation Report
I am Dr. Arnold Klein of 9615 Brighton Way Ste M-110 Beverly Hills, CA 90210. I am filing this report of a HIPAA violation regarding the records of my former patient, Mr. Michael Jackson.
Doctors frequently use medical software systems both for records and insurance billing these doctors input billing data, the patient’s name, billing amount, type of treatment, diagnosis, type of drugs prescribed and administered, and the date of service. This is essentially the record system in my office. On October 27, 2009, without my permission my lawyers Richard Charnley and Brad Boyer of the law firm of Ropers, Majeski, Kohn and Bentley of 515 Flower Street Ste 1100 Los Angeles, CA 90011 in collusion with my former employee Jason Pfeiffer and former accountant Muhammad Kihilji essentially released Michael Jackson’s medical records in court supposedly to get me paid by the Jackson estate.
I did find out until recently that this was the manner in which the mass media got hold of my records. They released the software bills showing line by line the treatment details of each visit that was unpaid at the time of Michael’s untimely death. Mr. Charnley and Mr. Khilji then went on to release the entire patient chart of Michael Jackson including my notes written on the patient file to various individuals on the Internet. I recently found a copy on the office computer from Mr. Khilji.
This unauthorized release of Michael Jackson’s records has caused my practice untold damage and has spurned a media circus. It has given tabloids and trashy media free access to Mr. Jackson’s private medical information. Mr. Jason Pfeiffer has tried to capitalize on the hype and has gone on television to publicly discuss the records and my treatments on television. It should be noted that Jason Pfeiffer, Muhammad Khilji with the assistance of Richard Charnley have embezzled over 12 million dollars from me leaving me in bankruptcy court. The have made illegal loans, stolen my identity, written checks, taken out loans, open and closed bank accounts, and depleted my retirement fund.
These individuals did this without my permission but I have reason to believe the concert promoter’s AEG is involved in that they have been in contact with Charnely. .
Once released my records have been totally misinterpreted. They have been used by TMZ, The Beast, Anderson Cooper and various other media sources to obscure the real facts and individuals responsible for Mr. Michael Jackson’s death. First these records are not simply my records but that of three physicians treating Mr. Jackson: Myself, David Rish and Ilya Reyder. Michael was treated by me to rebuild his face for the “This is It Tour.” Injection sessions to rebuild his face from the consequences of faulty plastic surgery took 3-4 hours and he was given Demerol for pain relief during these procedures. Please note the entire month of May I was out of the country so injections he received during that time were not mine. Addiction requires the frequency and dose of medication to increase. As my treatments with Michael became less lengthily the dose of Demerol that was used and the frequency of visits was greatly reduced. The figures that have been erroneously quoted to the public indicate a grossly increased frequency of visits and size of dose than that actually used. Being a recognized authority on addiction and Mr. Jackson’s physician I was well aware of his long-standing problem with Propothol created by a plastic surgeon that Mr. Jackson subsequently discharged and was placed in a mental institution. Please understand what you have experienced and I have suffered is an attempt by the greedy parties responsible for Michael Jackson’s death to use me as a scapegoat. They have defamed my name and attempted to destroy me. My relationship with Mr. Jackson taught me many things one of which was the ability to survive. Now it is my turn to take action against the media and finally reveal the greedy and disgusting people who were truly responsible for Michael Jackson’s death.
***(Please note the person who re-published this note does not agree with the claim of propofol addiction.)
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/dsvce2
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“William Wagner talks about Conrad Murray and his (real) ? name Robert Earl Carter”
Appleh, thank you for the video. I would love to see the documents William Wagener is using, but I hope he has checked them up before saying that.
Well, guys, if all this change of names is true it makes me sick because it opens a new and sinister page in this whole saga.
It doesn’t matter which name is Murray’s real name – what is important is that he changes them and doesn’t go under one name only. This is not normal for normal people, let alone doctors. It is normal only for people who are not straight in their ways.
The time of the change has a meaning of its own. In January 2009 Michael signs a contract with AEG and in February 2009 a person known to some as Robert Carter returns to his more widely used name of Murray. Probably he does it to fit some earlier made papers which enable him to render services to Michael. Probably he does it for some other reason – if we knew in which papers he changed it, we could say for sure.
But this is not important – what is important is that he changes them at all! And treating people under various names (at different periods of life or in the same period but with different people) is absolutely not the same thing as checking in at a hotel under a fictional name.
And now comes the point of his certification as a doctor – does he have any papers proving that he is a doctor at all? Or are all his papers fake – like the one on sedation, written in the name of Conrad W. Murray who is clearly a different person?
The prosecution should clarify it or otherwise I don’t know………
P.S. On second thought I think that Murray returned to his official “Conrad Murray MD” name as he learned that his main job would be with Michael Jackson and Michael Jackson knew him under that name.
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“Thome-Thome`s role remains unclarified, He was definetely adept at acting on the edge of what´s legal and most likely on what is not. Just did not get caught every time. I have read that he was paid 100.000 dollars per month , in one statement by AEG and in another by MJ. Did not stop even after Michael fired him, was that because AEG had use for him?”
Kaarin, it is clear from AEG’s “contract” that Tohme WAS paid, but the vagueness about WHO was paying him gave him a chance to stay in the project even after he was fired by Michael.
Let me explain.
The contract says in point 6.8:
“With the exception of the monthly fee owing under the terms of a separate agreement with TT International, LLC for the services of Dr. Tohme Tohme (not to exceed $100,000 per month), which shall be included in the Production Costs, Artistco shall be responsible for and shall pay all costs associated with management ……. of Artist and/or Artistco”.
To put it simply Michael’s company was to pay its own managers, with the exception of $100,000 to Tohme Tohme because this money was to be part of production costs. After reading this statement every normal person will assume that the production costs were to be AEG’s responsibility.
So if we look at the contract only, AEG is to pay the production costs and is consequently to pay Tohme Tohme. Therefore Tohme is an employee of AEG.
But the attachment to the contract (Exhibit A) puts it differently. Here it says – again in an extremely roundabout way – that the production costs will be Michael’s responsibility. And if they are Michael’s responsibility then it is him who is to pay Tohme and Tohme is in Michael’s employment.
This means that depending on which document you take Tohme is working either for AEG or Michael.
Considering that the contract is more or less signed by Michael (it carries one of the two necessary signatures) and the attachment is not, the priority stays with the contract, and under the contract Tohme is working for AEG (or at least you can assume it). And if he worked for AEG, even when Michael fired him he had a pretext for still staying in the project.
It is the first time I see anything like that. The whole thing is simply devilish in its design.
“He and Randy were very active constructing the contract agaist Michael. So glad to hear of the news from “Brigeport News”.
If you are talking about Tohme and Randy Phillips they were indeed the main designers of this devilish contract.
And what is the news from Bridgeport News? It seems I missed something. Due to the amount of work and watching the trial at night – because of the time difference – I am terribly tired, turned forgetful and often miss infromation. (This is why I don’t always react to the comments. If you think that something important has been overlooked please feel free to repeat it until it gets all the attention it needs)
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Hi, here is the link, where William Wagner talks about Conrad Murray and his (real) ? name Robert Earl Carter !
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Thome-Thome`s role remains unclarified, He was definetely adept at acting on the edge of what´s legal and most likely on what is not. Just did not get caught every time. I have read that he was paid 100.000 dollars per month , in one statement by AEG and in another by MJ.
Did not stop even after Michael fired him, was that because AEG had use for him?Also got nearly 3 mlj for working out the Neverland deal with Branca.He and Randy were very active constructing the conntract agaist Michael. So glad to hear of the news from “Brigeport News”.
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“Why was he called Conrad Murray in his 1994 arrest warrant if it was not his real name.”
I am not asserting that Conrad R. Murray is not his real name – all I am saying is that with all this talk about aliases it is one of his names. It is the aliases for a doctor (if it is true) which raise a huge red flag for me. However this information should be checked and rechecked and I cannot do it by myself.
The other huge red flag is that the defense produced the certification made in the name of Conrad W. Murray. I hope to re-watch all those episodes which I have not yet covered in week 5 and if this information is true, it will show the real worth of all evidence provided by the defense. A single fraudulent piece used by lawyers will cast a heavy shade of doubt on everything they do.
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Why was he called Conrad Murray in his 1994 arrest warrant if it was not his real name.
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I’ve just been to Seven’s blog http://www.mj-777.com/?s=murray&paged=5, have seen the picture of Murray’s arrest for domestic violence and agree with her that lack of private information about Murray is stunning. Especially if you compare it with how far they went into Michael’s private life in 1993 and 2003-05 or at any other period of time.
Information about Murray’s personality is not some idle talk – it is indispensable information for the trial! And now it turns out that we don’t even know his real name!
The aliases (if they are true) are a huge red flag. Normally people do not use aliases and it is definitely not an accepted practice in medical profession. Only actors and other celebrities sometimes use aliases to avoid too much publicity (and it is understandable).
But for a doctor, who is not in the center of attention of the media, it is nothing but a way to hide from dissatisfied patients, law enforcement bodies, or conceal his not too beautiful doings in the past (for example, the fact that he was charged with domestic violence). It is also a way to manipulate with documents.
A doctor charged with “involuntary manslaughter” cannot afford to have a shady past. It is a huge “character witness” nullifying the character witnesses who came to support him. It indicates that this person is capable of anything, just anything…
Now the defense experts constantly say that, for example, Dr. Shafer’s findings are “not consistent with Conrad Murray’s statement to the police”. This is meant to convey to us that Murray’s statement is a bible and all he said to the police is truth.
In other words we are obliged to believe the words of someone heavily suspected of a crime simply because he says so.
He says so.
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Yes and he was acquitted.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MichaelJackson/story?id=8199286&page=1
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“on his arrest warrant for domestic violence in 1994, his name was Conrad Murray”
So Conrad Murray was arrested for domestic violence??
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I don’t have a link right now, I’ll try to find it later and I am very skepticla about that because on his arrest warrant for domestic violence in 1994, his name was Conrad Murray
http://www.mj-777.com/?s=murray&paged=5
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“Just a quick people search of the name Conrad Murray in the US gave me 31 returns.There is a Conrad R Murray and a Conrad W Murray both 58 years old. Conrad R. Murray has the following AKA names: Robert Conrad Murray, Conrad Bonnick Murray, Conrad Murray MD and Robert Earl Carter. Conrad W has no known aliases. It is troubleing to find a doctor with known aliases though.”
Just a moment please.
So as Susan notices that 1) the defence’s certification of Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas for Murray to administer medication to induce moderate sedation was in the name of Conrad W. Murray.
And now Lynette finds that our Conrad Murray is 2) Conrad R. Murray with aliases Robert Conrad Murray, Conrad Bonnick Murray, Conrad Murray MD and Robert Earl Carter.
Lynette, if these aliases are not a joke it is awfully disturbing!
And providing a paper for a different doctor also shows the extremes in lying the defense is capable of going to.
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“William Wagener spoke about the real name of Conrad Murray in one of his video”.
Shelly, could you give a link to it, please? I’m still skeptical but every piece of information should be verified. You never know.
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William Wagener spoked about the real name of Conrad Murray in one of his video.
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Here is a link to a blogger that did a little bit more on the name business.Interesting info.
http://dianajeann.blogspot.com/2010/01/drconrad-murray-revealed.html
Lynette, what the hell is all this information about the change of name by Conrad Murray in February 2009? Can this be true? Can anyone please check on this information? Is it possible at all to get verified information on that? And is it possible that the police missed it?
Frankly I doubt the veracity of these findings because his patients talk of him as Conrad Murray, so they must have known him under that name for long. And his father seems to be Dr. Murray too. But if it turns out to be true than it will be an interesting new twist to the whole situation.
This blogger says:
I did find out who Murray really is
I went to peoplefinders.com and found out that his real name is Robert Earl Carter and he is married to Blanche Yvette Bonnick Murray. According to DMV records Robert Earl Carter and his wife live
at 2579 Red Springs Drive in Las vegas, Now this isnt the address that the “police searched” for their Home but they do own Both properties. Now Dr. Blanche Yvette Bonnick Murray has a practice at 2110 east flamingo unit 301, Now this address is very important because its listed on the warrant for Global cardiovascular associates. and it isnt its her Nevada paractice and shes a family Doctor.
Now also Robert Changed his name on his license in Febuary of 2009 to “conrad murray” and then he boght properties in Conrad Murrays Name.
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Here is a link to a blogger that did a little bit more on the name business.Interesting info.
http://dianajeann.blogspot.com/2010/01/drconrad-murray-revealed.html
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Just a quick people search of the name Conrad Murray in the US gave me 31 returns.There is a Conrad R Murray and a Conrad W Murray both 58 years old. Conrad R. Murray has the following AKA names: Robert Conrad Murray, Conrad Bonnick Murray, Conrad Murray MD and Robert Earl Carter. Conrad W has no known aliases. It is troubleing to find a doctor with known aliases though.
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“Randy Phillips testimony is interesting, both the lies and truth in it.”
Yes, Kaarin, I also think that despite very scarce information we can still get something out of Randy Phillips’s testimony. I’ve fully updated it – here it is:
I am having a problem with Randy Phillips’s testimony because he told so many lies that repeating them would be equivalent to promoting them.
However some points are interesting to note.
The first negotiations about the shows took place in 2007 after a call from Michael’s lawyer Peter Lopez. There was no resolution after that meeting as it was “relatively apparent” to Randy Phillips that Michael Jackson was not ready to go on stage.
The next contact was in August 2008 when Tom Barrack of Colony Capital contacted Phil Anschutz of AEG. Colony Capital is a private equity fund who had bought a note (?) on Neverland from the company called Fortress.
“What does it have to do with the concerts?” asked Chernoff (the question was objected to).
The same week of August 2008 the Colony Capital gentlemen set up a meeting for Randy Phillips with Dr. Tohme who introduced himself as Michael’s manager. Tohme said Michael wanted to restart his career, part of it being touring live and part of it being putting out new music during the course of the tour.
The follow-up on that meeting were phone conversations, meetings, negotiations – all of them with Dr. Tohme and two attorneys – Dennis Hawk and Peter Lopez.
[Dennis Hawk was Dr. Tohme’s attorney while Peter Lopez was probably representing Michael Jackson. Sometime in January 2008 Peter Lopez was fired, and in May 2010, almost a year after Michael’s death, he committed suicide leaving no note or weapon beside him].
Randy Phillips personally met Michael Jackson in September 2008. “It was me, Dr. Tohme and Michael”, said Randy Phillips.
The plan was to start in London on O2 arena and do a “residency show”. They called it the “mountain going to Mohammed – instead of the artist touring with 20 trucks and all the expense of that, getting fixed to one venue and then advertising it around the world. Obviously it takes a very special artist to be able to do that”. It could be the first phase of what could have been a multitour plan.
[AEG’s so-called contract names “the world” as the “territory” of the contract and during touring the world all travelling expenses were placed on Michael’s shoulders- so Randy Phillips is not telling us all there is to tell here].
In 2008 it became apparent to Randy Phillips that Michael Jackson was motivated and receptive to the idea of the concerts. After that they had a number of meetings, all held at the Bel Air hotel. Randy Phillips said that they never discussed money with Michael [so they discussed it with Tohme Tohme then?]. “Those negotiations were done separately and the meetings with Michael were more creative”.
In October 2008 in the Bel Air hotel he met Tohme, Michael, his children wearing Halloween costumes and their nanny. He didn’t know where Michael was living at the time. At that meeting Michael explained why he wanted to restart his career. The primary reason was that he wanted to finally settle down, and get a really good home for the kids who were living like “vagabonds”.
When Michael described how he and his three kids had lived, and said he was tired of living like that he got emotional. Randy Phillips says that he cried and Michael cried too.
It was the last meeting before the lawyers got involved with the numbers. The contract was prepared and “signed” in mid January.
[There are huge doubts that the AEG paper was really signed by Michael Jackson. For details please go to http://wp.me/pIuKO-1Ma
Phillips said the contract was signed in January 2009 in the house Michael Jackson had moved into which was some time prior to that. Michael “signed it personally” and Phillips himself signed it for AEG.
I am finally beginning to see why Walgren objected to some of Chernoff’s questions. Numerous questions about where Michael lived before and when (and why) he moved into the house in Carolwood Drive may have been interpreted in multiple ways. So I am almost ready to forgive Walgren for objecting to the following questions from Chernoff though I would have loved to hear Randy Phillips answer them:
– How was AEG Live going to make money on this contract?
– What was AEG’s stake in the contract?
– Can you estimate what Michael Jackson’s stake was?
– Can you estimate how much Michael Jackson was making assuming successful completion of the shows?
– Did AEG Live pay for that residence?
– What would AEG get if the shows were cancelled?
Randy Phillips would have lied of course but his lies could have been very instrumental in showing what phenomenon Michael Jackson had to deal with in the face of AEG and their Randy Phillips. Despite all his lies we could have learned some truth about the events of June 2009 and the months prior to that.
Chernoff managed to have only one interesting question answered by Randy Phillips. He asked him whether Michael Jackson was to cover all production expenses for the show and Randy Phillips said “Yes”. This fully confirmed my own conclusions from AEG’s so-called contract.
The confirmation of this fact gives a new shade to AEG’s public tears that they were spending too much on the show and to Randy Phillips’s alleged worries about Michael not attending every rehearsal.
If someone wants to create a show and fully pays for it, will you worry whether he comes to every rehearsal or not? Especially when you know that the money he has borrowed from you has been insured by the man (and you are the beneficiary) and all of it is fully covered by all his belongings – his shares, his music catalog and rights to all his current and future earnings?
And you have the man’s written promise to repay and if he doesn’t pay you at least one small installment you receive his everything and receive it irrevocably? Together with full rights over managing his estate in the future? (Please see the above post for details).
Even the little truth Randy Phillips provided in his testimony can give us some idea about the situation in the spring of 2009.
Randy Phillips said that there was no production on the concert tour from January to March 2009. “In March no production had not started. It didn’t kick into gear until sometime in April”.
But this was too late a start for the show which was beginning in early July! AEG’s own contract said that the tour was to start on July 26 only, so why push the shows almost a month earlier and start selling the tickets in March when there was still no trace of the preparations done?
Philips said that in March “Michael and Paul Gongaware had a couple of meetings about the show, some production people were brought on board to help do budgets”.
By April Kenny Ortega had been the director of the show (the other director was Michael).
In April Michael Cotton, choreographer Travis Payne and other personnel were hired. Auditioning of the dancers began.
Randy Phillips said that he honestly didn’t remember when the rehearsals had started.
And I honestly cannot believe that with a tight schedule like that and only two months left before the beginning of the tour Randy Phillips was not concerned about the rehearsals and does not have an idea when they began. Each of us would have been a nervous wreck if we knew we were responsible for the show but rehearsals had not even started – though tickets for 50 shows had already been sold!
Now Chernoff and his medical experts are telling us addiction horror stories about why Michael could have had a severe anxiety and insomnia while the reasons are there on the surface for everyone to see – two months before the show the rehearsals had not yet started, the costumes, the stage props and special effects were still only an idea, and nothing was ready!
As far as AEG Live is concerned this type of neglect could be possible only if they didn’t give a damn whether the rehearsals or the tour itself took place at all. Another aspect of the same problem is – if you yourselves delayed the process by so long how can you later demand that Michael should rehearse every day to catch up with your schedule?
It is no wonder that when Michael returned home from a rehearsal on June 24 he said to Murray that he was tired and added, “I AM TREATED LIKE A MACHINE”.
After Randy Phillips’ testimony AEG cannot even blame Michael for the need to catch up because even though Michael was visiting Arnold Klein’s office in March and April and could be probably too sedated for rehearsing, it still doesn’t explain why AEG was not hiring the production personnel and not doing anything serious until April or even May!
Randy Phillips later recalled, “I believe the rehearsals may have started in May, but I may not be one hundred per cent sure”.
According to Randy Phillips the conversation with Michael Jackson about a personal doctor also took place in late May. He said he never knew anything about Dr. Murray and had nothing to do with hiring him.
He recalled a meeting at the beginning of June when some “concerns” were expressed about Michael’s diet, etc. This is too mild a way of putting it – at that meeting they decided to play tough love on Michael and put Conrad Murray “into the fold” – his job was to make a strict schedule for Michael Jackson and ensure that he attended every rehearsal.
References to the first June meeting are found in the email Kenny Ortega sent to Randy Phillips early in the morning of June 20th. Here it is in case someone missed it during Ortega’s testimony on week 1 of this trial:
Randy Sat, June 20, 2009 at 2.04 am
I will do whatever I can to help with this situation. If you need me to come to the house just give me a call in the morning. My concern is, now that we’ve brought the Doctor into the fold and have played the tough love, now or never card is that the Artist may be unable to rise to the occasion due to real, emotional stuff. He appeared quite weak and fatigued this evening. He had a visible case of the chills, was trembling, rambling and obsessing. Everything in me says that he should be psychologically evaluated. If we have any chance at all to get him back in the light, it’s going to take a strong Therapist to help him through this as well as immediate physical nurturing. I was told by our Choreographer that during the Artist’s costume fitting with his Designer tonight they noticed he’s lost more weight. As far as I can tell there is no one taking responsibility (caring for) him on a daily basis. Where was his assistant tonight? Tonight I was feeding him, wrapping him in blankets to warm his chills, massaging his feet to calm him and calling his doctor. There were four security guards outside his door, but no one offering him a cup of hot tea. Finally, it is important for everyone to know, I believe he really wants this. It would shatter him, break his heart if we pulled the plug. He’s terribly frightened it’s all going to go away. He asked me repeatedly tonight if I was going to leave him. He was practically begging for my confidence. It broke my heart. He was like a lost boy. There still may be a chance he can rise to the occasion if we get him the help he needs.
Sincerely,
Kenny
Do you get the impression that Kenny Ortega is using expressions like “tough love” and “pull the plug” for the first time here? No, you don’t?
And our good old Randy Phillips lies in his testimony that he saw those expressions in Ortega’s email for the first time ever.
But Kenny Ortega in his turn says that playing tough love was the resolution of the first meeting they had approximately a week prior to June 20. That meeting was actually the moment when they decided to “bring the doctor into the fold” . My notes from Ortega’s testimony on week 1 of the trial explain what it was:
“The first meeting came as a result of Michael missing several rehearsals and the “playing the tough love” phrase refers to the resolution of that very meeting. In between the two meetings there was a series of conversations between Ortega, Randy Phillips and Paul Gangaware. Frank Dileo was not involved”.
But total misrepresentation of the “tough love” issues is the only lie in Randy Phillips’s testimony. He also lies that:
– He left the second, June 20 meeting with Michael together with Ortega. Ortega does not confirm it – he himself stayed there for 10 minutes only (he was specially summoned to speak about his email) and then left, while Michael, Murray and Phillips remained in the house. This is important, because from other sources we know that someone read out a “riot act” to Michael that day and it could be Phillips all right.
– Randy Phillips’s story about Michael wanting to do 31 shows is a lie. You just need to look up their so-called contract to see how AEG is twisting Michael’s hands in order to make him agree to that number. The only definite thing in the clause concerning the number of shows is that “in no event shall the number of shows performed by Artist in the first leg of the tour be less than 18”. The rest of it said that 31 shows were “pre-approved” only, and that it would be “unreasonable to withhold approval for adding shows” with a conclusion that “the parties agree to negotiate the definitive agreement expeditiously and in good faith”. And all this indefiniteness is stated in their supposedly final contract!
– He also says that he first learned about Michael’s willingness to make concerts from his boss Phil Anschutz who told him to set up an appointment with Colony Capital (who suggested a deal with Jackson). Previously Randy Phillips said that it was hard to persuade Phil Anschutz to go into this project as he is a “devout Christian” (and was not too willing to enter the project with a man who had been suspected of nasty things).
– Randy Phillips is distancing himself now from the contract with Michael Jackson and says that he as the CEO of AEG discussed mostly creative work with Michael while Paul Gongaware did production (and probably the rest). And Gongaware as his co-CEO said that he was responsible for ticketing activities only and even did not see the final contract. Moreover Gongaware ‘wasn’t personally involved in contract making and had no personal knowledge of its clauses”. It is incredible, but now you cannot find a Chief Executive Officer at AEG who discussed those criminal contract terms with Michael !
– He says that he hadn’t met Murray or heard about him until late May. However the first version of the AEG contract with Murray was dated May 1, when Murray officially started attending to Michael. That contract version already incorporated most of the details including the kind of equipment that was to be provided by AEG. Let me also remind you that Kathy Jorrie, the hired lawyer drafting a contract with Murray, said in her testimony on week 1 that she had received a list of the equipment to be included in the contract from an AEG employee – so AEG was very well aware of their duties and I cannot believe that Randy Phillips as its CEO did not know anything about them.
– And what is your opinion about Randy Phillips’s revelation during the testimony – his sudden claim that on June 25 he learned about Michael’s death from Frank Dileo at 10.30-11.00? Given that he grabbed his car and 15 minutes later saw the paramedics truck leaving for the hospital I think that Randy Phillips is just playing a “being forgetful” and “terrible stress” cards to show that “it was such a blow to him” that now he must be excused for some inaccuracies in his testimony.
In short Randy Phillips is telling us innumerable lies. And if he can lie like that under oath I am even afraid to think what amount of lies he was capable of telling to Michael Jackson!
Here are some more details about Randy Phillips’s interview from Wiki:
Brandon Keith Phillips is President and CEO of AEG Live, division of AEG, for nine and a half years. Has worked in the entertainment industry for thirty years. AEG are the owners and operators of the Staples Centre in Los Angeles and the O2 arena in London. Phillips is responsible for profit and loss, booking talent for tours, making sure regional offices function properly as well as festival division. Phillips represented Jackson as an agent/consultant as early as 1993. Saw Jackson next in a meeting in 2007.
Contract was drawn up and signed (in mid-Jan 2009) for thirty one shows; Jackson wanted to do ten more than Prince (artist) did. Chernoff asked questions about the finances of the contract. All questions were objected to and the judge sustained them. It was heard that ten shows went on sale first and the demand was “over the top”. “We had never seen that kinds of demand for tickets, it was obviously we would have blown through thirty one shows in the pre-sale and not had any for general sales”. Within twenty minutes Jackson agreed to more shows. Jackson said he wanted to do maximum fifty shows because he didn’t want a passport, didn’t want to live in London. He asked for a country house estate (16+ acres with running streams) so he and the kids wouldn’t be stuck in a hotel in London. He also wanted the Guinness World Records to be there at the fiftieth show. It was heard that Jackson was very firm about having his own (24/7) physician (Murray). It was heard that Phillips met with Murray and Jackson in early June 2009 to discuss Jackson’s health. Murray assured Phillips he was in great health and that Murray would look after Jackson’s diet. It was heard that Kenny [Ortega] told Phillips that he was concerned about Jackson’s focus in performances in a production of this magnitude. Phillips started seeing stress and pressure in Ortega towards the middle of June because of this. There was an issue of Jackson showing up for performances. Ortega said he needed to be there because he was the fulcrum, everything surrounded him in the production. Ortega scheduled a meeting for on June 20 would be about Michael Jackson’s tardiness/focus at rehearsals. It was heard that based on Kenny Ortega’s email, it was clear he felt this was an emergency meeting (over Michael Jackson’s ‘focus’). The meeting was with Murray, Jackson, Ortega and Phillips at Carolwood house. Ortega didn’t understand why Jackson wasn’t engaged like he thought he’d be, maybe there were health concerns. “Michael didn’t respond immediately. Murray spoke for Michael on the situation, guaranteed us that Michael would get into it”. Phillips attended rehearsal on June 23-24 to make sure everything was back on track. On June 25, Phillips went to hospital and stayed there the entire time Jackson was there. “I was there all day into the evening”. Murray was in “severe distress”.
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You may be on to something Susan. When murray had to state his full name fot the court it was said he was hesitant on his middle name.
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During today’s testimony – anyone notice that the name on the defence’s certification of Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas for Murray to administer medication to induce moderate sedation was in the name of Conrad W. Murray. I thought his second name was Robert. Maybe that form does not belong to him.
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Found some info on Frank Dileo ,AEG and Michael ,dated 29.09.2011.I was away travelling and missed this post.So previous post not quite correct.
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The best news are from “The Bridgeport News”.
Randy Phillips testimony is interesting, both the lies and truth in it.
In my recollection he and Frank Dileo were having brunch at some hotel near Carolwood 100 at the time Randy got the call re problems.I cannot access this early info and be totally sure.The time was mentioned.Thome-Thome also appeared at the hospital when Michael was brought in.He left in 10 minutes to go to the residence,I can´t believe he got in.
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Just for once guys, I will not be sharing my opinion with you about Dr. White’s propofol theory. And if you can refrain from any serious analysis of it please do so too (unless this theory is scientifically disproved in the press of course). Instead I will try to transcribe Dr. Shafer’s final conclusions on Day 14 and then you will hopefully be able to see the big difference between Dr. Shafer and Dr. White.
The only thing I would like to say is that I completely forgot including into the propofol self-injection theory the need for lidocaine too, or otherwise during the injection Michael would have cried out.
Imagine approximately the same scenario described earlier and add to it the need to mix propofol with lidocaine and you will have a crazy picture of what we are supposed to swallow.
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By the way, he didn’t explain why they couldn’t find MJ’s fingerprint.
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“And why are you so interested to know how I know it?
As to the essence of your question I hope very much that Walgren, or better Dr. Shafer will explain why Dr. White is lying”
It was just a question. We don’t know if he is lying or not.
I hope Walgren will clarify things and I hope he will bring back Shafer for that..
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“How do you know that?”
And why are you so interested to know how I know it?
As to the essence of your question I hope very much that Walgren, or better Dr. Shafer will explain why Dr. White is lying.
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“And as regards Propofol this Dr. White is LYING so heavily that I hope his reputation is over with serious scientists.”
How do you know that?
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And as regards Propofol this Dr. White is LYING so heavily that I hope his reputation is over with serious scientists.
Oh, he must have been paid really well.
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Guys, let me express my views on what we have seen.
Two key scientists are discussing a clinical situation of what might have happened with a patient and one of them is totally disregarding the criminal aspects of the situation.
The second expert is very knowledgeable but it is inexcusable for him to forget that Murray did not behave like a normal doctor should – he tried to conceal the evidence, he didn’t say to his colleagues what he had been giving, he didn’t call 911 for an extremely long time, etc.
Given all these signs of abnormal for any doctor behavior how can we be sure that we are not having to do with a person who had a criminal intent?
And if Murray had a criminal intent then it will be reasonable to assume that he could have offered Michael a cup of juice with some tablets dissolved there.
If he had criminal intent he could have given 9 boluses of Lorazepam IV too.
What I am trying to say is that the doctors should not be allowed to be having a simply scientific discussion of levels of this and than bases on the assumption that everything else was okay. It is a discussion concerning an absolutely criminal situation and over here these criminal aspects should become the main ones.
As I said when the science brings us to a stalemate other factors should be brought forward. Why was the IV missing? Why were several empty propofol bottles found on the bags? Why did Murray try to take them away? Where are the missing parts of the IV infusion set which should be there if propofol was administered IV?
And all this scientific talk absolutely does not invalidate the major conclusions made earlier – whatever was the case Murray was inexcusably negligent.
P.S. For checking Dr. White’s Lorazepam theory it is top important to know the exact time of death. If Michael died earlier, the time of possible oral administration shifts back into the night when Michael was still hoping to fall asleep.
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Day 19, October 28, 2011:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Part 4:
Part 5:
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just for the record, I would like to mention that Walgren in fact did ask Randy Phillips about the time he mentioned that he received Dileo’s call (10:30-11:00). It’s in this part at 10:40:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmy2BUEWZwE Walgren said: ‘You were not aware of the time, you were guessing the time, is that accuarte?’ – and explained that the 911 call was placed at 12:20 etc., and then Phillips said: ‘It could have been that time.’ (Which doesn’t mean that Phillips said the truth, but Walgren did ask about it.)
Susanne, yes, now I see it. I’ve reconsidered my attitude to Walgren and now think that he is probably right in objecting to many of Chernoff’s questions. There is also probably nothing behind that 10.30-11.00 story – Randy Phillips is just playing the role of a forgetful guy in order to explain the inaccuracies in his testimony of which there were many.
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Helena, just for the record, I would like to mention that Walgren in fact did ask Randy Phillips about the time he mentioned that he received Dileo’s call (10:30-11:00). It’s in this part at 10:40:
Walgren said: ‘You were not aware of the time, you were guessing the time, is that accuarte?’ – and explained that the 911 call was placed at 12:20 etc., and then Phillips said: ‘It could have been that time.’
(Which doesn’t mean that Phillips said the truth, but Walgren did ask about it.)
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Tom Mesereau on JVM yesterday
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Day 19, October 27, 2011:
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Here is yesterday’s edition of Radar Online’s daily radio show. They discussed the trial and accepted calls from listeners! http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/10/conrad-murray-live-talk-latest-developments-michael-jackson
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@ ares,
What the hell, is there a condition in the media that says that whoever wants to get hired, they must detest MJ?
Yup, there is no reward in being polite or objective about Michael. If Drew was really about helping he’d do an entire series on the Media & MJ, of course there is something about “physician heal thy self”.
HLN’s newest contribution was to show a stream of MJ public outings clip overlaid with continues audio replay of Waldman’s assertions. As if to say Michael was under the influence at all times to include the 5 month, 9 hours daily 2005 court trial with the eyes of the Media upon him and a healthy dose of hours after court day strategy with T. Mes who has said he saw no drugs or drug induced conduct.
As far as Stacy….. Who???? Strange how boredom will have us spending time and giving credence to the unimportant making it important, The only people who give a skinny rats ass what this person has to say is us. Why????
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I couldn’t help but notice that the so-called drug addiction specialist when being questioned by the defense was as confident as they come. However, when it came to questioning by the prosecution, he played dumb, had to have the questions repeated to him multiple times, and even the judge had to get firm with him. The worst part for me was that this so-called expert based his “findings” on heresay and not by doing research.
Now the media is going to use this as much as they can to turn public opinion around and once again pin Michael as being the cause of his death. It makes me so angry just thinking about it.
I also noticed how the defense was trying to “humanize” Murray by having most of his former patients testify on what a great doctor he is to them. Yeah right like it’s going to make me forget about how failed to do the same thing for Michael when it came to his treatment.
I’m sorry they can “humanize” Murray until the cows come home; it does not change a thing. Michael is dead because of Murray’s gross negligence and that deserves a conviction.
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Yes I watched today with anger that man a supposed addiction specialist say that he based his opinion on public information (i.e. gossip and a 17 year old admission of addiction) and what others told him.He admittedly said once Dave Walgren got that far he based most of his assumption because it was assumption not a medical opinion on outside unconfirmed information.He even embarrassed himself by not being able to spell the most common opioid agonist Burenex used during rapid detox.What kind of addiction specialist doesn’t know how to spell that?He even speculated that Michael was doing street drugs by insinuating that the records he got were not complete. I repeatedly Tweeted that was not the conclusion but Jane valez Mitchell went after it like a bulldog and she just wouldn’t let go. It was 2005 and 1993 combined.
It seems like the wonderful Stacy Brown got information yesterday and sent a heartfelt email message to the Jackson Family and the fans stating that we are the ones that are trying to rewrite history when he clearly misstates that Michael had a problem since 1985.
I want to correct him with that It was not the initial surgery but one that he had in 1991 with a baloon device inserted under his scalp to strech the skin to enable the scar reduction that caused cranial facial nerve damage and led to severe migraine like headaches known as cluster headaches.These are the kind of headaches that cause people to lay curled up in a ball and scream and eventually they will become nauseated and throw up. They ususally last for up to 24 hours without relief and leave the persons head feeling tender and sore to the touch.That would be ample indication for the adminstration of opiate pain killers nothing else would have worked.
That said once Dave Walgren got ahold of the defenses addiction specialist it was a whole different story. He became rude insolent and had to be told to answer a question several times by Judge Pastor.Judge Pastor once even told him to tell the truth.Then we found out that once again they had a faulty chart the second time that a piece of evidence presented by the defense that had to be corrected by the prosection.He ended his testimony with Dave Walgren asking him if based on the records alone was Michael Jackson an addict and he said no. When Dave Walgren and Ms. Brazil left the courtroom for lunch the were met by a standing ovation.Congratulations Mr Walgren and Ms Brazil on doing your best to defend the reputation of the victim Michael Jackson and continuing to remind people that this trial is about a doctor that overstepped every standard of care and killed his patient.
However Jane velez Mitchel wanted no part of that she had her news and that is all we were going to hear today and probably throughout the rest of the trial.She even went as far as to tell Tom Mesereau that she had been fair in 2005.Can you believe that?
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Something of interest. Something to be checked.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_of_Conrad_Murray
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I bet that if we didn’t have the live streaming of the trial, people in the media would run wild like they did in 2005. But still, even with the live broadcast of the trial, it still fascinates me the fact that the media have still managed to be so nonobjective. Nothing can stop those fools.
What the hell, is there a condition in the media that says that whoever wants to get hired, they must detest MJ?
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Within 10 minutes after Waldman proclaimed to the Defense “MJ was probably addicted” HLN/In Session was reporting this. It was a News Crawl on CNN where there is normally nothing about the trial until late in the day if at all and there was a video posted on their main video page: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/crime/2011/10/27/conrad-murray-trial-dr-waldman-addiction.cnn.
This information was made public prior to cross by the Prosecution and the admission that Waldman based his judgment without the standards Waldman himself stated was necessary to evaluate someone and a Media induced prejudice of Michael.
I imagine sometime later today there will be a video of Walgren’s cross of Waldman, but when it happens it will be too late to give both sides of the story for tired and occupied minds to take that into account.
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I also think some of these idiots in the media WANT Murray to be found not guilty so they can write an epitaph that Michael Jackson killed himself.
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I wonder if Dr. White will proposed another theory that does not involve a drip.
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Well, guys, at the moment it is not that bad. All Dr. White has proved yet is that propofol has a white range of application – from mild sedation to deep anesthesia and that initially its use for sedation purposes was not accepted by physicians.
Now it is. He even mentioned the word “sleep” and said that in a hospital setting it is very much okay, while at home it is not.
And this means that Michael was absolutely right in asking for this very medicine as a remedy against his insomnia – only it should have been done properly and by a proper doctor!
Murray still remains guilty due to his gross negligence in handling propofol with nothing to monitor Michael with, leaving his side, talking on the phone instead of doing his job, not calling 911 when he registered the problem, hiding the evidence, not telling the truth, etc, etc, etc.
The same gross and criminal negligence as before.
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Was he addicted or not?
“”Would you diagnose Michael Jackson as addicted to Demerol, based strictly on these documents?” prosecutor David Walgren said.
“I would diagnose him as physically dependent and because the initial doses were high for somebody who may or may not have been opioid naive, it raises the specter and question of prior opioid use,” Waldman said.
“Let me try again. Dr. Waldman, would you diagnose Michael Jackson as addicted to Demerol based strictly on these documents in my hand, yes or no,” Walgren said.
“Probably not,” Waldman said.”
http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/entertainment/news/article/164225–addiction-specialist-jackson-dependent-on-demerol-but-not-addicted
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Certainly this restriction is exactly what this word implies.However not being too fluent re legal matters I don´t know how the matter should have proceeded. As i have mentioned in an earlier blog,is it so, that the world is owned by a handful of enormous woldwide corporations too large and rich to be tackled by present legal systems.
Remember Rupert Murdoch.what has happened to him so far? Michael wanted a better world,do we have to pick up his torch?
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Jenne, a most beutiful poem. Still my mind whispers differently.Something I will never utter unless to the most trusted friend,if I ever find one again.He was more than innocent,this is the riddle of his life.
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There is something unnatural in discussing Klein’s medical records without him being able to testify.
Same as with AEG it was another instance of things being artificially reduced to Murray only – while the picture is much wider. The only effect this restriction of the truth does is giving support to further gossip, slander and malicious stories about Michael Jackson.
If the whole truth had been told it would have only shown him to be a human being caught up in a game which different people were playing with his life.
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@ Jenne
Your logic is severely flawed, as pointed out by the other readers and admins. Initially, I thought you were another MJ hater here trolling just to incite an argument. However, after I skimmed through your blog and saw the thoughtful poem about MJ that you published on October 1st, I see that you’re not a hater, but someone with a difference of opinion, which we highly value here. Please feel free to respectfully state your views here, and we’ll respectfully engage in a civil discourse with you.
Once again, thanks for that poem! It was great!
http://parolavivace.blogspot.com/2011/10/posting-today-for-dverse-poetics.html
Meditation on the Death of a Pop Icon
And so was the manchild flung into death
As if off a building but not by intention
So that he lay on a white shore
Spread-eagled, arms wide apart
Eyes god-ward, mouth parted
As if he had tried to embrace
And reassure the sky
At the bedside the poison drip
The line to the catheter in the leg
The pump bringing not sleep
But oblivion
And so sadly, the o.d.’d and weeping penis
In its plastic coat, its tears collecting
In a household jar.
Forget the Caribbean medic and his foolish
Greed. This death
Was written into time on the first
Of a thousand and one injections
The first of a million and one tablets
Under the tongue.
The lost boy tattoed on
A red grimace
ranged far and wide
From his fairy land of trains
And lonely elephants
To Bahrain, to Ireland, toiling
Through denial’s arid kingdom
Bearing his fears on his back
Like a dwarf his hump.
It’s all right now; life has put all aright
With its broadly artful death
How we may send ourselves up and out
of this world
Like smoke, a fading writ of many sorrows
And delusions of redemption and windfall
that falter at the last like wing-clipped doves
from a magician’s frayed sleeve.
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Guys, what was Klein thinking about when he was giving all that Demerol? Though some pictures show that the procedures were made under the eyes and this must have been painful.
And still it looks like all those doctors were irresponsibly making experiments on Michael – one with Demerol in the daytime, the other with Propofol and a mix of Lorazepam, Diazepam and Midazolam at night.
And it is highly surprising that while they were doing it to him , he is the one who is to answer. He was a victim of their treatment and not the other way about.
I would even call Michael a victim of medicine.
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Susanne, thank you for this news:
http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/thebridgeportnews/news/localnews/106258-city-lawyer-joins-michael-jackson-wrongful-death-team.html
City lawyer joins Michael Jackson wrongful death team
Written by The Bridgeport News
Wednesday, 26 October 2011 15:50
“Attorney Michael Koskoff, senior partner at the law firm Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder of Bridgeport, has joined Panish, Shea & Boyle LLP in representing the family of Michael Jackson (except Joseph, his father) in its civil lawsuit against AEG Live LLC, a corporation that produces live entertainment, and other defendants.
The family (the plaintiffs) includes Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson, and Prince Michael Jackson II, the minor legal children of Michael Jackson, as well as their guardian, grandmother Katherine Jackson (Michael Jackson’s mother).
AEG owns and operates concert venues, clubs, theaters, arenas and stadiums, including the Staples Center in Los Angeles where Michael Jackson had been rehearsing for his upcoming worldwide concert tour, “This Is It.” It also owns and operates sports teams and sports training facilities.
Dr. Conrad Murray is on trial for involuntary manslaughter in connection with Michael Jackson’s death from a drug overdose. Attorneys for AEG have stated that they could not have known that Dr. Murray’s medical actions would have led to Michael Jackson’s death.
Rehearsals had begun in April of 2009. Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009.
The civil case was filed in Los Angeles County superior court with a request for trial.”
You say you don’t know what it means. Let us be cautious and say that the Jackson family is trying to reinforce their case against AEG – which I support with my both hands. This article also says that the family is requesting a trial and not money. This is encouraging. But let us not say it too soon and hope for the Heavens’ help.
I personally am amazed that there are so many people named Michael in the case – Michael Flanagan, judge Michael Pastor and now Michael Koskoff is also joining them. The other thing I am surprised by is that there are so many people with Russian-sounding names employed on both sides. I hope Koskoff will be doing a better job supporting the Jacksons than Chernoff in defending Murray. I recently learned that the grandfather of AEG’s Philip Anzchutz came from my country too. All of it is a little bit surprising.
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“Helena you are hilarious”
Lynette, thanks. But the theories put up by Murray’s supporters are hilarious too!
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Helena you are hilarious.Because I have been in an operating room and in a trauma room I had the funniest image pop into my mind of all of us leaving at once to go to the bathroom!!!! I think that is the best one I have heard yet. Imagine the conversation between the surgeon,the anesthetist,the surgical tech and the circulating RN all look at each other and say ” I gotta pee anybody else?lets all go at once and get it over with” LOL
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According to ;Rose Speaks…on Jan. 4.th 2011,Diamond girl post 9
“U.S.Attn Daniel Bogden…Dr. Murray had agreed to to pay back 1.25 mlj for inflated claims.”This put on ice til after the trial,or has some fan of Dr murray already paid it?
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From at least the 90.ies the private insurance companies became a pain in the neck.I know of private physicians who did not get paid by these insurance companies at all for their services rendered. At least medicare was reliable then! I know that of late, and at last, some of these insurance companies have been taken to court.Here in Europe some people love to blame the US health sysatem, and sure enough there is some reason.All the same they fail to look at their own.Like Lynette explained thre are many different ways in US that attempt to help this segment of the population.It is hardest on the working poor.
Most physicians had several jobs and a mixed bag of ways to get paid.
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I was cut off in the middle of a response explaining that many hospitals and clinics used to have a mixture of poor SSI insured ,as well as medicare insured patients.Many doctors had sveral jobs and may have worked in clinics set up for this segment of the population part time. It had one great advantage: You were not interfered by the private insurance companies, who in fact wanted to just cut costs and push for”high volume”, an eufenism for many ,many patients in the shortest of time.It gave you the opportunity to know your patient and deliver proper care.Doctors mosty received a hr-based salary.Murrays work was not that unusual or exeptional.
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To me it is entirely plausible that he pretended to be asleep and then reached up and moved the clamp setting on the line to the propofol so that it all came in fast.
Let’s have a look at this fascinating theory.
“He pretended to sleep”
As soon as propofol reaches the brain the person falls asleep – even if it is only 25ml. There is simply no other option as it happens to EVERYONE. So your first argument is off.
“He then moved the clamp so it came in fast”
WHAT came in fast? I mean, what was there on the IV stand that Michael could move the clamp on? Murray claims there was NOTHING there except the saline bag. The 25 ml he had given earlier was described by Murray as a ‘slow injection’ made by a SYRINGE. And whatever was left of that injection had long been gone. So this of your arguments proves to us that there WAS a vial of Propofol on the IV stand .
“Murray stated he did not on that day because the other drugs, unlike preceding days, were on board, and he had become concerned about the whole sedation issue”.
So you claim that Murray did NOT place any propofol around Michael as he was “concerned” and was weaning him off it? This means that there was no propofol bottle on the IV stand (and no tubing attached to it) when Michael woke up. Moreover it means that propofol was not even on the night stand and probably not even in the room!
So Michael woke up, saw that there was nothing there for him, took away his urine catheter (with a bag attached to it), went to the closet, found the bottle, an empty saline bag, a spike and a spare infusion line (the one hanging on the IV stand was clean of propofol, so there should have been another infusion line). He specifically took a vented one as the usual one won’t do (the propofol won’t flow from a glass bottle without a vent).
Once he got what he wanted he returned to the room, hang the saline bag on the IV set, made a cut with something (a knife? so he went to the kitchen too?), put the bottle inside and inserted a spike into it.
Then he put the urine catheter back, opened the vent on the tube to allow the air into the bottle (for the liquid to start moving), waited until it went down to the end of the tube, stopped the clamp again to attach the end of it to an IV port under his knee and then unclamped the tube again to start the infusion. Somewhere in between that he should also be able to lie down to get ready for the procedure.
Question:
– Is it a crazy scenario?
Questions to those who said “No” to the above question:
– If Michael was so good at it, why did he need a doctor at all?
– How long was Murray away? Half an hour? An hour?
– When was the last time you saw a doctor leave his patient for half an hour (a hour) with an IV attached to his vein?
– Have you ever seen doctors leaving their patient under anesthesia in an operating room?
– Can the patient wake up from his anesthesia if everybody leaves him to go to the bathroom during the operation?
– Can he in the first seconds after waking up disconnect all the tubing on his body, spring from the operating table and die as a result?
– Will the patient will responsible for his death?
– Who will?
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I don’t know if that means something:
http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/thebridgeportnews/news/localnews/106258-city-lawyer-joins-michael-jackson-wrongful-death-team.html
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@ Jeene Andrews
Can you explain to me your theory?
You assume as the defence does that Michael Jackson was a desperate drug addict and that he was desperate for sleep correct?
He was SOOO desperate that he either A) got out of bed and picked up a propofol bottle, picked up a knife or cutting tool opened the bag with it got a IV line out from somewhere put spike through Propofol bottle placed in saline bag and did this all with the condom catheter on or maybe in defence/your theory he took it off and put it back on and layed back down in bed. Despite the fact that defence said he died instantly.
B) He put a injection of propofol in himself so he reached over grabbed a syringe grabbed the bottle took a full syringe of propofol (which we know takes a while as Shafer showed us) reached down put it in his leg despite the fact he had a drip in his leg so surely instead then he would of had to use the Y connector. Injects it in dies. Oh wait i forget in both theories he also took the time to grab a lorazepam bottle and take 8 pills. Why 8 when there was more in there well no matter let just say he took them as well.
Well most will say in the space of 2 minutes it is simply impossible but what you or the defence have failed to present to us or the jury is how did MJ do any of the above theories without using his hands?
No fingerprints found of MJ’s. So Before any of the above the desperate drug addict/sleep obsessive MJ didn’t grab a syringe didn’t grab a propofol bottle or a Lorazepam bottles….No this desperate man who has been awake all night first thought was…TO PUT GLOVES ON!!!
Really?
Not to mention the fact that he would of been groggy from the other drugs he had already taken which would make his actions slower lets stick with the gloves fpr now.
Murray didn’t mention MJ wearing gloves when he came back into the room correct?
So MJ although he died instantly from this bolus injection he didn’t have time to close his eyes but had time to take his gloves off. Hmmm, that makes sense. This is all the defence’s theory not prosecution by the way.
So it is impossible to do these things in 2 mins. Well as flanagan said lets assume he lied about the 2 mins…
So let me get this right he lied about time out the room,to the police and his OWN LAWYERS. He lied to paramedics he lied to UCLA staff he lied to the police and withheld information about the phone calls he made at time of MJ’s death and again Withheld it from Chernoff unless Chernoff told him not to tell the police.
Yet everything else Doctor Murray said we are supposed to accept as truth????
Again Really? Is that all you got? There is not a doubt in my mind that MJ did not self administer. You simply would not put gloves on if you were desperate to sleep.Why waste time? He could just grab a syringe and bottle inject himself done. But theres no fingerprints only Murrays despite the fact that alvarez put it in the bag so according to all this Murray never touched the bottle yet his fingerprint is only one on it!
There is only 2 things desperate about this case…
A desperate defence for a desperate man. Was that answer to factual?
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Day 18, October 26, 2011:
Part 1:
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Actually he did say to police in that interview that he would start a slow drip and he did that on that morning as well if you listen to Dr. Alon Steinberg as he reads it. When the story was changed to he did not give a drip was not to police at all but in a statement to Dr. Paul White his anesthesia expert.
We have seen that the 100 ml vial that was found in the cut open saline bag with Murray’s thumbprint on it has an opening in it that was not caused by anything other than a spike. A spike is a device that is used to insert into a vial that can be vented so the vial can be hung for a drip.Why would that even be there if he did not hang that vial?
I see also that the crucial math calculations that prove how much was in Michaels system is of no relevance to you so your comment is based on opinion only and it is an opinion based on what. Certainly not the facts of the case.
What is interesting is your assertion that we presume guilt that Murray did this even though it must have escaped your observation that he admitted that he did it. That is not a presumption he said he did it. It just became inconvient for him to say he did it that way when he found out that he was going to be charged with a crime.
It is also noted that you say we presume and blame without facts and yet aren’t you doing the same thing when you say that Michael woke up and gave himself that fatal dose? The facts do not support that and you can go back and listen again to Dr. Steven Shafer explain that to you.On Tuesday we heard from the defenses own toxicologist and the new lab report performed on the stomach contents by the prosecution the the lorazepam found was equal to 1/333 of a 2 mg pill. That means that one half of the defense perfect storm is gone.
It would also be good to know if you have any experience in the use of propofol.It is not used to treat insomnia because you do not sleep on it you are anesthetised.It is used in surgery and though the immediate effects are quick it stays in your system for 1-3 hours depending on the patient.You wake up but you are not immediately alert enough to wake up, draw up more than one 10 cc syringe of propofol and attach it to a y port to push it in. Also if the roller clamp was loosened it would still not run in at a rate rapid enough to get to those levels in the 2 minutes he was out of the room.It meets natural resistance in the vein that would slow down the rate.The defense can’t have 2 or 3 different stories and have one or the other be true.It has to be an either or and the evidence does not support the or because if Michael opened a roller clamp Murray hung a drip.If he hung a drip Michael was anesthetised not awake to move the roller clamp or get up and draw up what would be 2 and one half syringes full of propofol to push in and he would have been anesthetized before he could push in a whole syringe.
Myself this will be the only reply from me because there is no point in debating your opinion that is not based on the facts because I don’t have to convince you it is the 12 people in a courtroom that the prosecution has to convince. Conrad Murray knows which story is the truth because he was the one that was there sort of if you don’t consider abandonment an issue.
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In your discussion you assert that Murray set a drip, when he stated he did not on that day because the other drugs, unlike preceding days, were on board, and he had become concerned about the whole sedation issue. You assert that Murray is a liar when you don’t know that, and that Shafer is a hero. You and Dr. Shafer are not quite birds of a feather although it seems you’d like it to be that way. Shafer hasn’t presumed guilt before innocence.
His weakest point was that Jackson could not have wakened from sedation to give himself more sedation– i.e.– that’s a “crazy” scenario”, which presumes and assumes he was truly under when left alone by Dr. Murray. There is no way to know this, no matter how many brilliant calculations derived from the propofol concentration in the femoral blood and reenactments are made.
Jackson was desperate for sleep and willing to do anything to get it. To me it is entirely plausible that he pretended to be asleep and then reached up and moved the clamp setting on the line to the propofol so that it all came in fast. Criminally negligent homicide must involve a direct, proximal cause. As long as no one can prove that Jackson did not himself accelerate the infusion to the tipping point, I don’t think you can either. There will I believe, be a hung jury or a not guilty verdict returned– and we have yet to hear from Dr. White. j
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I found the law on the jury instructions for character evidence in CA.
http://www.californiajuryinstructions.net/Criminal/CALCRIM/Vol_1/Series_300/CALCRIM_350_115_Character_of_Defendant.htm
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What would be interesting would be to see a bill from Conrad Murray or howhe submits his charges for services to SSI or MA.
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I believe that they all did but because with SSI the Doctor is not allowed to charge what they like. Social Security or Medical Assistance issues a maximum amount that they will pay for a certain charge. That has led to many doctors and hospitals to refuse patients with this coverage.
However there are other ways that a Doctor that serves these patients can benefit that people who work outside the medical community don’t know about.The biggest one is one of the many Student Loan forgiveness programs out there. Take forinstance the fact that If I chose to I could submit my student loans to a program that allows me to work in a certain area like one of low income and in a certain field like mental health or geriatrics and in a given amount of time those loans will be forgiven if I just work there.I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal until I tell you that the average medical student leaves school with almost a million dollars in student loans.
Certain employers will cover those too but they can be more arbitrary in who they give this to. They can have some pretty strict criteria like your GPA and other things that so not everyone that goes to med school gets those. What people don’t realize is that a Doctor especially a specialist has ot pay not only for the four years of college,four years of general med school but their residency and fellowship.
That said that might mean that Murray may have taken advantage of one of those programs but I will add that that is not a reflection on him what so ever.
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How come they did not have SSI if so severy ill?
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I just listened to the interview with Tom Mesereau on Radar Online and came away with 2 important points. One he does not believe that the prosecutors declined to press charges of second degree murder because Michael would not be a sympathetic victim.And the second is that the defense in the Murray trial were wise to put on the seemingly unimportant character witnesses because in California the law provides that during jury instructions the Judge can instruct the jury that character testimony can be used if it can create reasonable doubt.In other words if the jury feels that Murray is a man of good character because of this testimony he can be found not guilty. What a shame just another hurdle for the prosecution.
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AEG arranges sport events.Cannot believe they had no clue how top athletes are prepared both psychologically and physically.
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AEG went for a win-win situation for themselves whatever the outcome. Therefore also the insurance Michael had to eventually pay for himelf.
Fraud,lies and devilish intentions.The Riot Act definetely turned things in the direction it eventually took.The doctor -patient realationship ,if there ever was one,must have totally broken after that.Michael may with reason have had a fear that he will be killed,and uncosciously that pulled him in opposite directions,to be on guard versus going to sleep,
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I have said from the beginning that getting them to charge Murray with anything is fighting an uphill battle for many reasons. The biggest reason has always been the American publics misinformed perception of MJ.I knew that one juror on that jury that believes that MJ deserved what he got because of the 1993 charges,the 2005 trial and his former drug abuse Murray would walk away a free man. I knew from the very beginning that most of the negative press that TMZ for example peddles every day is because when it became known to the public that a medication named propofol was involved that defense team of Murray’s kicked into high gear to spread all the negative press that they could. They are the reason that negative press still exists about Mj is to help this man out and keep him from getting what he deserves.
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@David -October 27, 2011 12:35 am
Wow, Hamid Towfigh really broke it down, and I have to say I agree with him. I do not know if a jury would convict Murray of murder where the sentence could be life imprisonment because the victim is Michael Jackson. The reconditioned goodwill for MJ is only because he is dead. The Gardener School plaque would still be boarded up if Michael was alive, that is the irony.
Wow Murray’s charge has the same weight as Lindsay Lohan’s shoplifting. UNBELIEVABLE! So, basically Murray was charged because the DA’s office had no choice, and then they chose the lowest charge for possibly revengeful reasons, and they believe the jury would not convict on anything higher.
HLN is always talking about celebrity justice, but in this case Michael’s celebrity did not get him the same treatment as another person. If believe if the victim had been anyone else, but Michael the charge would have been murder 2.
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Here is a link to something called ” a shadow defense”
A shadow defense for Murray in this case would be to say that he was dependent on AEG, had to obey their instructions and follow their requirements as he had a contract with them.
But this statement is incompatible with the duty of a doctor.
A doctor is always an independent party.
He has duties only to his patient and no one else.
He will never do harm to his patient even if his boss gives him inadequate, wrong or criminal orders.
Some doctors obeyed nazi criminals and made experiments on human beings.
But the majority of doctors were true to their duty.
And those who obeyed were not released of their guilt even if they were forced to do it against their will.
Though soldiers were found not guilty as they were only obeying orders.
This is the uniqueness of medical profession.
Whatever pressure from the outside is exercised on the doctor his duty to the patient comes first.
And if he has been so grossly negligent that his patient died for no reason at all, he should answer for it independent of other people’s guilt.
Because it is him who bears responsibilty for his patient.
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Did you see that?
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Here is a link to something called ” a shadow defense” and be sure to click on jury nullification.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_defense
I think that people in general don’t know that there is something called the theory of the law where a law student is taught all kinds of ways to defend a client.It also can be said that Sneddon used that with that Conspiracy charge. He was not acting as a prosectutor he was acting like the defense team for the Arvizos.
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“Randy Phillips, with his now suave manner, told lies by omission and comission”
And all his lies remained unchallenged. My congratulations to AEG’s proponents who often attend this blog.
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Karen Faye was supposed to confirm for them that Michael was so distressed that he wanted to sleep so badly that he wanted this drug. They also wanted her to say that he was seeing Dr. Klein and that he was going through withdrawal from Demerol which is just another one of their stories. She was supposed to point at the pressure he was under to perform by this contract with AEG that is why he could not sleep.
It does nothing for the fact that he wasn’t supposed to do it but according to them and their story has always been that Michael asked for this and pressured Murray with the promise of money. It is the same old story of the Mean Old Michael Jackson that every other lawyer has ever used to either prosecute him or defend against him in civil court.
Never underestimate what a jury member will attach to a certain testimony. We have to remember what Hamid Towfigh said that some of the jurors in this case might see MJ in a negative light and that will color their judgement no matter how much a judge tells them no to.
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“I absolutely understand your point.”
Thanks. I know you do.
“They should ask these questions Chernoff asked and go forward. When LaToya proclaims in her book and in interviews that there are more people involved than Murray I don’t understand why they don’t sue AEG”
I think they know that justice has its limits. Or that they need a genius of a lawyer.
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“I think that a couple of other things are misunderstood about the Randy Phillips defense testimony. If Murray is found not guilty the wrongful death suit is pretty much dead in the water.”
What I totally cannot understand is that there might even be a possibility for the jury to acquit Murray. What kind of jury should it be if they don’t see that Murray is absolutely criminal in his negligence? With this amount of evidence? None of those testimonies from his patients can change the fact that while attending to Michael Jackson he spoke on the phone for hours, didn’t watch his patient, poured propofol into him without proper dosing night after night, did not call 911 for an indefinite period of time, tried to conceal the evidence, lied to the paramedics, doctors, police, etc. etc. etc.
Wouldn’t that mean that it would have been better for Randy Phillips to help the defense in their testimony.
What a bold statement. First of all does it mean that all witnesses called by the defense are helping them? I hear that Karen Faye was subpoenaed by the defense too.
And how do you know that Randy Phillips’s answers would have helped the defense? They would have helped us to find out the truth but would not have acquitted Murray. How can the fact that AEG read out a riot act to Michael acquit Murray? Or even the fact that they didn’t provide the equipment they promised? After all Murray could have taken some equipment from his own clinic.
All it would have done was making the public aware that this smiling guy Randy Phillips also put a hand to Michael’s death. It wouldn’t have taken away Murray’s guilt – but it would have ADDED the guilt of AEG, especially if the prosecution had properly handled it. It was a unique chance and now it is lost.
I doubt very much the civil case filed by Katherine will have any future – it is poorly worded, poorly substantiated and no proper investigation has been made by her lawyers. They didn’t even take up AEG’s contract and look inside it. And the civil suit will not have so much publicity as this trial. I wonder if it ever gets to the point of a trial at all.
Non-questioning Randy Phillips was a big win for the AEG camp.
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This interview with former Deputy DA Hamid Towfigh proves that the reason that the prosecution went with Involuntary manslaughter instead of second degree murder is because the allegations, primarily the 1993 settlement, would make MJ an unsympathetic victim to the jury, and they wanted to be sure they got a conviction. Steve Cooley rejected Walgren’s pleas to charge Murray with Murder 2, and the Jackson family was very disappointed.
His comments about this start at around the 4:00 mark. http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/09/conrad-murray-lindsay-lohan-not-serious-felony-hamid-towfigh
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The defence is tiring out the jurors,to make them forget the complex, but clear testimonies by the specialist prosecution witnesses.
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The defence is driving the jurors tired and crazy by going over issues already clearly demonstrated by the prosecution. And now Chernoff and Flanagan are fighting between themselves.The prosecution witnesses were very clear on the issues, and ofcourse it is the defences job to disrepute them.They are not doing much more than tiring out the prosecution hoping they will forget the clear state ments by the specialist prosecution witnesses ,all of the highest caliber.
Randy Phillips, with his now suave manner, told lies by omission and comission.And the timeline he gave for the telephonecall,10:30-11:00 rises new questions.
Dr. murray is guilty 100% ,for being a doctor willing to participate in this macabre dance of death.If anyone ,HE could and should have put an end to it. Randy Phillips was quite different in 2009, laughing and mocking Mihcael, in an imitated voice:”no more shows,no more shows.”
True too, this trial is for murray. And true too it is difficult not to take the whole background ,the weird contract and the charachters into consideration.
Remember Rupert Murdoch on this blog.Is it really so,that this world is run by huge empires, not easily visible,but too powerful to contend with?
There has been one unexplained suicide,Peter Lopez.He spoke with his mother the night before and seemed quite alright.And Frank Dileo dying from an accidental double dose of anestesia.-BTW randy Phillips did mention Thome.What about him?
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Here is today’s interview with Mesereau! http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/10/conrad-murray-live-talk-tom-mesereau-trial-tears
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I think that a couple of other things are misunderstood about the Randy Phillips defense testimony. If Murray is found not guilty the wrongful death suit is pretty much dead in the water. All AEG and Murray has to do is say “see he was responsible for his own death” and that case is over.Wouldn’t that mean that it would have been better for Randy Phillips to help the defense in their testimony.
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“Will our desire to see him guilty be reason enough not to seek for the truth?”
Helena, I absolutely understand your point. Of course seeking for the truth should be as important as the desire to see Murray guilty. I didn’t mean it is of no importance. I also desperately wanted to hear the answers to the very important questions asked by Chernoff. It’s a terrible situation. I just think in this case the defense wants to see MICHAEL guilty, and all they do with their questions is trying to push the guilt from Murray to Michael. And – we cannot be sure – if as a consequence it creates reasonable doubt among the jury and Michael is seen guilty for his own death by the jury as well as the worldwide audience, it wouldn’t bring any justice to Michael either. I think AEG’s role cannot be clarified within this trial. In my opinion Michael’s family should do everything to bring the truth out. They should ask these questions Chernoff asked and go forward. When LaToya proclaims in her book and in interviews that there are more people involved than Murray I don’t understand why they don’t sue AEG. We need an extra trial with a thorough investigation for that because Randy Phillips & Co should rather be in the dock than on the witness stand.
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Day 17, October 25, 2011:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Part 4:
Part 5:
Part 6 /Last:
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“I think we also have to consider that the defense has a different reason for asking the questions on AEG than we have”
Susanne, the ways of truth are sometimes very intricate. You never know who will tell it. And truth has an absolute value which is much bigger than the concept of who is a friend and who is not. Over here Murray is guilty like a devil, but suppose he were not? Will our desire to see him guilty be reason enough not to seek for the truth?
For conflicting cases like ours Aristotle said: “Plato is dear to me, but dearer still is truth” (http://www.searchquotes.com/quotation/Plato_is_dear_to_me,_but_dearer_still_is_truth/5840/ )
In application to Murray’s trial the Prosecution is dear to us, but dearer is the whole truth about Michael’s death. And who tells it is of no importance – especially since Murray’s guilt has been proved several times over and no defense questions to Randy Phillips can help him out of it.
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I know several people who work at night and must sleep during the day, and they do play music or other “white noise.” And when I have a hard time going to sleep I play classical music on low volume.
Oh, Kris, how very true. Classical music on low volume is the best – for example, for small children who wouldn’t fall asleep. If any mothers have problems with their children Mozart is their way out. And as regards different people’s different sleep patterns – I, for example, sleep best when the lights are on.
“My suspicion is that although Murray was ready to work on Michael, Michael would much rather have gone with someone (anyone!) else, which is why he was asking other healthcare providers to help him. It seems obvious that it wasn’t propofol he was after but only what it might provide–deep and restful sleep. He was willing to embrace anything reasonable that could deliver it to him. Simply put, Michael was desperate for sleep, not for its own sake sake but because he knew he would be unable to function on the following day if he didn’t get it. … And his whole life did depend on him being able to function. Anyone with any sense can understand that there was no way he could do fifty concerts without sleep.”
Absolutely. Every word of it is true.
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“the prosecution did show the jury about the phone calls”
Lynette, what I mean is not showing a paper but analyzing it – who called whom, for how long, etc. What surprises me is that I had to take this information from preliminary hearings and no one is saying a word about it here at the trial.
Also the real timeline of the events is absolutely unclear. First Murray (probably accidentally) mentioned to the police 11.00 as the time when Michael stopped breathing. Now Randy Phillips tells us things about receiving a call from Frank Dileo at 10.30 – 11.00 about the problem – and the Prosecution is not even asking questions why all this timing is so strange!
“Randy Phillips also proved today that Murray is lying again when he said he did not know about Dr. Klein.”
All Randy Phillips proved to me is that he was lying like crazy. Here are just some lies I’ve noticed:
– He says he first learned about Michael’s willingness to make concerts from Phil Anschutz who gave him instructions to set up an appointment with Michael. Previously he said that Phil Anschutz had to be persuaded to go into this project (and so was involved in it much later).
– His story about Michael wanting to do 31 shows is a lie. You just need to see the contract to see how AEG is twisting Michael’s hands in order to make him agree to them. Probably at some point they received his agreement to that, but definitely not at the time their so-called “contract” was signed
– He says he attended a meeting where they had a preliminary discussion of what Murray would be doing for Michael in the first week of June. And the first version of the contract with Murray was dated May 1 and already included all details of Murray’s involvement in the project – even what kind of equipment was to be provided by AEG!
– He says that he doesn’t remember words like “pulling the plug” though I think I even heard him saying it before.
– Now he doesn’t remember that they played tough love on Michael. He says he read about it for the first time in Ortega’s email early in the morning June 20. And Kenny Ortega said it was the resolution of the meeting they had a week or so prior to June 20. My notes from week 1 of the trial say:
“The first meeting came as a result of Michael missing several rehearsals and the “playing the tough love” phrase refers to the resolution of that very meeting. In between the two meetings there was a series of conversations between Ortega, Randy Phillips and Paul Gangaware. Frank Dileo was not involved”.
– Now Randy Phillips says he left the June 20 meeting together with Ortega, while Ortega says he stayed there for 10 minutes only (he was specially summoned to speak on that subject) and then left, while all the others stayed including Randy Phillips. This is important, because from other sources we know that someone read out a “riot act” to Michael on that day.
In short Randy Phillips is lying in his testimony on various subjects. And if he can lie like that under oath, I cannot even imagine the amount of lies he could tell to Michael.
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They were satisfied to hang it all on Murray and move on. That does not seem like justice for MJ to me.
Dial, that’s the point of it. If we speak about justice for Michael Murray is absolutely not the whole of it. It is like scratching the surface only.
“NO ONE is talking about video tape or whether Murray recorded Michael more than once”.
I don’t know what video tape you are talking about. But if you mean Murray’s recording of Michael falling asleep – yes, it looks like they formally registered the fact of the tape and then dropped it like many others (though Walgren will probably return to it).
“After listening to the completion of Randy Phillips testimony I told a friend I feel just as angry and helpless as I did in days after Michael’s death.”
I felt the same way. Especially because I have done some research on AEG.
Chernoff managed to have only one interesting question answered by Randy Phillips. He asked him whether Michael Jackson was to cover all production expenses for the show and Randy Phillips said “Yes”. This fully confirmed my conclusions from AEG’s contract.
But if Michael Jackson was to pay for the show all those stories about “worries” Randy Phillips and Kenny Ortega had about it become meaningless.
If you lend money to your friend and he wants to create a show with it will you worry whether he comes to every rehearsal or not? Especially when you know that the money he has borrowed from you is fully covered by all his belongings – his shares, his music catalog and rights to all his current and future earnings?
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“No matter how much questionable activity AEG did it is DR Murray on trial not AEG. That is why Prosecution isn’t allowing testimony. It is Murray’s trial and only he can be convicted.”
Chris, I understand, but I feel totally frustrated by it. However as in all times of crisis it has become clearer to me where we are in this situation.
We (or at least me) and the Prosecution have somewhat different goals – Walgren’s goal is to convict Murray and my goal is to learn the whole truth of what happened to Michael Jackson.
Why I think there is more to the situation is because 1) Michael Jackson himself said to Katherine and other people that he was fearful of what might happen to him 2) there are some glaring facts which show that the case is more complex than Murray’s totally criminal negligence.
Why I am frustrated with the Prosecution is because at the investigation stage they did not go any further than Murray. If we put it in numbers Murray is no more than 25% of the situation while the remaining 75% is staying outside the scope of it.
AEG, their slavery contract and some falsifications in it, their attitude towards Michael, the awful stress they put on him, their power over Murray, their unwillingness to provide the equipment though he asked them to, the situation with non-payment to Murray for two months and them dragging their feet with signing a contract with him, the unclear matter of who paid for all those shipments of propofol and other substances – these and many other matters in my opinion should have been looked into at the investigation stage. But they were not.
Out of the whole picture they selected only Murray and cut off all the other guilty parties.
Giving the Prosecution the benefit of the doubt they probably just tried to make it easier for themselves to convict at least someone in this situation. This is why they took only 25% of the case and left out its 75% unattended.
But what is so frustrating now is that in order to get their only man they are denying us all other information which might shed light on the remaining 75%. With all due understanding for their difficulties from the point of truth it is inexcusable.
I mean it is inexcusable to bury the whole truth at the expense of one fourth of it.
It is my personal opinion of course, but if Chernoff had been allowed to ask a couple of questions about AEG, Murray would not have become less guilty. But we would have had a chance to learn some truth about Michael’s death.
Objectively speaking by cutting all those trails the Prosecution is now obstructing the truth.
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“And let’s not forget that someone was telling Michael the name of this stuff Diprivan and the other Doctors that they named said that Michael did not tell them what it was that he was asking for. The name of this could only have come from Murray and he was the only one that could have told Michael it was safe. No one else told him that. No one”.
Maybe it has something to do with that
http://site2.mjeol.com/video/mjeol-libo-agwara-adams-murray-propofo-10072011.html
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I think we also have to consider that the defense has a different reason for asking the questions on AEG than we have. With his questions to Randy Phillips Chernoff only wants to prove that Michael self-administered propofol due to the pressure AEG placed upon him. But that’s not what we want to have proven, right? That’s why I think this trial is not the proper place to prove AEG’s guilt.
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And let’s not forget that from day one Murray’s plan was to blame Michael. He was the one that said he had no idea what doctors Michael might have been seeing and yet today we heard that not only Randy Phillips but possibly Michael Amir Williams knew exactly who he was seeing and informed him.He immediately set out to make it appear as though Michael was demanding a certain drug and yet we have heard that to Dr. Alan Metzger he referred to it as juice, not milk like Murray told the police.
I honestly believe that Murray instead of having the proper monitoring equipment in that room because he didn’t want to share any of the money with anyone else just used the blame game as his back up. He had no intention of giving Michael the proper care from the minute he started seeing him.
I just want to know one thing after today and that is how did Flanagan expect to get away with presenting a false report to the prosecution.Are they going to be sanctioned for that?
And let’s not forget that someone was telling Michael the name of this stuff Diprivan and the other Doctors that they named said that Michael did not tell them what it was that he was asking for. The name of this could only have come from Murray and he was the only one that could have told Michael it was safe. No one else told him that. No one.
Murray was also the one that was suggesting it since Michael told Cherilyn Lee that his doctor said it was safe. No one but Murray would have done that.He wanted to be indispensible to Michael. He wanted to be the one that got all that money and he did not want anyone to stop him.At what point do we understand that Murray was the one that pushed it on Michael by telling him that is all that would work?
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Michael Jackson died from acute propofol intoxication as a result of Conrad Murray’s gross negligence. There is argument that AEG knew Michael was unwell, but nothing indicates they knew Conrad Murray was giving him surgical grade anesthesia to treat insomnia. That is why AEG was not charge as an accomplice to Murray. There is no direct link between the propofol and AEG; therefore, Murray stands alone at the defense table. You cannot prove a negative.
One of the reasons the defense is having such an up hill battle is because their client is guilty, guilty, guilty. They cannot even prove self administration and their expert witness single handedly debunk the 8 lorazapam tablets theory Chernoff declared in opening statements. They want to draw attention on AEG, Klien, & Adams to deflect attention away from their client.
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With all respect to Nurse Lee, offering Sleepytime tea to a chronic insomniac is patently ridiculous. I drink herbal teas all the time, but in this instant she was way off the mark. Also, telling him he should not try to go to sleep with music playing as it is counterproductive is also wrong advice. I know several people who work at night and must sleep during the day, and they do play music or other “white noise.” And when I have a hard time going to sleep I play classical music on low volume. Sure works for me. My suspicion is that although Murray was ready to work on Michael, Michael would much rather have gone with someone (anyone!) else, which is why he was asking other healthcare providers to help him. It seems obvious that it wasn’t propofol he was after but only what it might provide–deep and restful sleep. He was willing to embrace anything reasonable that could deliver it to him. Simply put, Michael was desperate for sleep, not for its own sake sake but because he knew he would be unable to function on the following day if he didn’t get it. … And his whole life did depend on him being able to function. Anyone with any sense can understand that there was no way he could do fifty concerts without sleep.
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Hey guys, here’s the latest podcast from Radar Online, and today’s guest was Erin Jacobs. She rocked it, and was in complete agreement with the hosts that the defense should throw in the towel, rest the damn case already and be done with it! Tomorrow’s guest will be Mesereau, and I’ll post the link once it’s up.
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/10/conrad-murray-trial-dr-reef-karim-michael-jackson
Once the trial is over (hopefully within the next 2 weeks), I will post my newest article titled “How To Recognize And Refute The Fallacies Used By Michael Jackson Haters”. I will give examples of over 15 intellectual fallacies used by haters, and give advice on how to effectively refute them. This will probably be a 3 or 4 part series, as it is currently 51 pages long, and I’m only around 80% finished. This will be another masterpiece, and I can’t wait to finish it! I was motivated to write this by the poor performance of Steve Manning and Mike Garcia at the roundtable discussion with Dimond a few weeks ago, so hopefully fans can use this to become better advocates.
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I will say it clearer.
No matter how much questionable activity AEG did it is DR Murray on trial not AEG. That is why Prosecution isn’t allowing testimony.
It is Murray’s trial and only he can be convicted.
Hopefully AEG will be exposed in civil suit but it is unlikely.
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vindicatemj says:
“I no longer have any doubts that the Prosecution is taking the case away from AEG. Walgren avoids even the most innocent discussion of AEG’s involvement.
It is ONLY Conrad Murray. The ONLY guilty party.
Funny that I had so much praise for Walgren only yesterday. However for proving Murray’s guilt he is doing a good job indeed”
I’ve commented on the unasked questions and the trails that are abruptly stopped, but I felt as if many did not wish to go there. They were satisfied to hang it all on Murray and move on. That does not seem like justice for MJ to me. NO ONE is talking about video tape or whether Murray recorded Michael more than once. If this had been the People Vs. Michael Jackson there would still be talk about how it is only a part of the tape survived or raging demands to see or hear and audio or video recordings by the Media.
After listening to the completion of Randy Phillips testimony I told a friend I feel just as angry and helpless as I did in days after Michael’s death. As I did when first understanding what was going on with our system during the 2005 trial.
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Helena the prosecution did show the jury about the phone calls. That is why they called the girlfriends,employees and Bob Russell his patient.The employees even showed that Murray was ordering from seacoast medical. That is who he was on the phone to that morning. Randy Phillips also proved today that Murray is lying again when he said he did not know about Dr. Klein. Randy Phillips alerted him to it and yet in his police interview he says that he doesn’t know who Michael was seeing and he was pointing at these other doctors and Nurse Lee in his interview. When Kenny Ortega referred to the tough love and bringing the doctor into the fold how do we know it wasn’t Murray that was threatening Michael with abandonment of the shows.At this point I truly believe that Murray had a plan B in place in case something went wrong and that was to blame Michael.
Look at the extremes he went to to be involved in Michael’s life. He first asks for 5 million dollars, lies to the people that are arranging the contract with him that he would have to close 4 practices when he actually only had 2.we heard today several times that what Michael said to Cherilyn Lee he was told by his doctors that it would be safe all he needed was someone to monitor him. Like I said before Murray was pushing everyone out of Michael’s life that might be able to recognize the symptoms that he was having that show what he was doing to Michael.
We do not know what Murray said and did to Michael in his last days. You can also surmise from Nurse Lee that he might have said something to Michael like he said to Kenny that he should stop being an amateur doctor he was in control of Michael’s health.He could just as easily have told him that she was “just a nurse”.
I think that Murray was very possesive of Michael and he was the one that was already ordering the propofol at the time Michael was talking to Cherilyn Lee.
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“Susanne is right it ain’t about AEG just Murray…frustratingly.”
Chris, not quite. People are allowed to talk about quite alien matters – Murray’s mistresses, his employees, his patients, even a certain Dr. Prashad was called to tell us how she was impressed by Murray speaking from memory about a patient.
But the topics not allowed to discuss at this trial are:
1) Murray’s phone calls
2) the fact that it was AEG who was to supply the equipment under a contract with Murray
3) the fact that the list of the equipment needed was also made by AEG. Kathy Jorrie, AEG’s lawyer who made a contract with Murray, testified that she had received the list of equipment from Tim Wooley of AEG well before she talked to Murray
4) Murray’s behavior on June 20 and him having no concern for Michael’s deteriorating health.
The last point is especially surprising – isn’t it a grave violation of the standard of care to totally disregard all warnings of a big trouble even when it becomes apparent to outsiders? And Murray practically saying to Ortega that it was none of his business?
But the Prosecution is not developing these points! As if they are not relevant to Murray’s case.
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“Another thing I wonder about….Frank DiLeo had a bad heart condition, it’s true. But doesn’t it seem somewhat strange that he dies before the trial gets underway? Coincidence? Or was the long and deadly arm of “you know who” somehow involved?”
Susan, and how would you look at the fact that lawyer Peter Lopez who was extensively mentioned by Randy Phillips committed suicide last year? He was the one who spoke on TV in August 2009 and said Michael’s death would be solved soon. He says “Something went terribly wrong and we will find out about that very shortly”:
However in April 2010 he suddenly “committed suicide” and no weapon was found anywhere around him. Here is some information posing questions about his death:
I wasn’t a conspiracy theorist but I am quickly turning into one.
The headline of the post has been changed into “Will the truth win?”
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Susanne is right it ain’t about AEG just Murray…frustratingly.
Hopefully Jackson fam won’t accept settlemnt in civil suit. No hiding then.
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“I’m so confused and yes, David, I agree with you that Muray’s actions were all EGREGIOUS”
Susan, David is our co-admin who writes here as lcpledwards. You are currently talking to Helena.
“I just finished listening to Randy Phillips. Now he says he got a phone call from Frank DiLeo (I think) that Michael was having trouble breathing somewhere around 10:30 or 11:00 on June 25, 2009 and he immediately headed to the Carolwood residence. He estimates it took him about 15 minutes to get there so that would put his arrival at around 11:30 at the latest. When was 911 actually called? Is it me? Am I all screwed up here?”
No, it isn’t you. It is Randy Phillips who is playing some dirty tricks on everyone here. If he is doing things like that under oath we can imagine how he was deceiving Michael.
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“I expected that AEG would be out of the focus because this trial is only about Murray. Proving the guilt of AEG would require another trial.”
Yes, it would and I hope it does take place. But this explanation satisfies me only partially. Walgren did not even look into the enormous area which is opening up in connection with the June 20th meeting. He doesn’t speak of the rather rude way Murray cut Ortega’s attempts to express his concern for Michael. Walgren didn’t follow the words of Ortega about Michael’s assistant not being beside him and not rendering him help when he was most needed (Ortega had to massage Michael’s feet, put a blanket around him, etc.). Walgren is not saying a word about Murray being responsible for the condition Michael was in on June 19th.
In short Walgren is missing a lot of opportunities to talk about Murray – and all this because everything connected with AEG looks like it is having a gag order around it.
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Another thing I wonder about….Frank DiLeo had a bad heart condition, it’s true. But doesn’t it seem somewhat strange that he dies before the trial gets underway? Coincidence? Or was the long and deadly arm of “you know who” somehow involved?
I know. I’m one of those conspiracy theorists and I’m all wet. It just doesn’t make sense to me. It never will.
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I just finished listening to Randy Phillips. Now he says he got a phone call from Frank DiLeo (I think) that Michael was having trouble breathing somewhere around 10:30 or 11:00 on June 25, 2009 and he immediately headed to the Carolwood residence. He estimates it took him about 15 minutes to get there so that would put his arrival at around 11:30 at the latest. When was 911 actually called? Is it me? Am I all screwed up here?
As for the invoices, etc. that proved the quantities of Propofol ordered in April, I am now spinning. Did Michael coerce him into ordering the Propofol with the idea that another doctor would be administering it and monitoring him? I’m so confused and yes, David, I agree with you that Muray’s actions were all EGREGIOUS. Mr. Shafer didn’t even touch on the actions of Murray scrambling to pick up the evidence and hid it before calling 911.
Mr. Shafer was a marvelous witness. if the jurors believe in justice, his testimony will convince them to convict.
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Helena, I expected that AEG would be out of the focus because this trial is only about Murray. Proving the guilt of AEG would require another trial. But it’s really hard to listen to the questions of Chernoff the answers to which we so much would like to hear.
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I no longer have any doubts that the Prosecution is taking the case away from AEG. Walgren avoids even the most innocent discussion of AEG’s involvement.
It is ONLY Conrad Murray. The ONLY guilty party.
Funny that I had so much praise for Walgren only yesterday. However for proving Murray’s guilt he is doing a good job indeed.
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“Anyone with a mildly-functioning conscience cannot dismiss the testimony of Dr. Steven Shafer. 17 violations from acceptable medical practice (four of them egregious) are more than enough reason to convict Murray.”
Susan, all 17 violations were egregious and four of them were also unconscionable. I know it for sure as I’ve fully transcribed the first part of Dr. Shafer’s testimony (week 4). And as regards Dr. Shafer he is probably the most honest and truthful person in the whole crowd here. I cannot imagine anyone not believing Dr. Shafer.
By the way I’ve updated day 16 of this week and besides the testimonies added some information about Dr. White. Here it is:
White has already been heard from during the trial, when he was chastised by Judge Michael Pastor for talking to reporters about the trial.
E! online reported that Murray could be heard whispering loudly to the possible witness, Dr. Paul White, “Can you believe that?” in response to the testimony of Dr. Steven Shafer, a witness for the prosecution. In response, White allegedly turned to journalists and said, “What a s***bag.”
It was unclear whether White was referring to Shafer or prosecutor David Walgren.
Pastor scolded White for his remark and set a Nov. 16 hearing date to determine whether White should be held in contempt of court.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2011/10/defense-strategy-for-michael-jackson-doctor-conrad-murray/
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And why is Randy Phillips “innocently” testifying that he received a call from Frank Dileo at 10.30-11.00 about Michael not breathing?
What does he want to say this way? That the whole scenario built by the Prosecution around noontime is wrong? That everything happened at 11.00 am (as Murray initially said to the police) and Frank Dileo was the first person whom Murray called? or sent an email to? Of course Frank Dileo will not be able to confirm anything now, but this way Phillips is making Murray’s situation even more impossible – because then it means that Murray delayed calling for help for more than an hour.
I don’t believe for a second that Randy Phillips didn’t get ready for his testimony and didn’t try to recollect the time when he really learned about it. There must be a reason why he is saying all these impossible things.
But even from a couple of these instances it is clear that what we are looking at is a huge heap of lies.
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Randy Phillips is lying like crazy. He heard the phrase “pull the plug” from Ortega’s email for the first time? And he never heard about “playing the tough love”? Ortega is speaking about these issues as if they had long agreed about it between themselves! Here is the e-mail in case someone missed it:
Randy Sat, June 20, 2009 at 2.04 am
I will do whatever I can to help with this situation. If you need me to come to the house just give me a call in the morning. My concern is, now that we’ve brought the Doctor into the fold and have played the tough love, now or never card is that the Artist may be unable to rise to the occasion due to real, emotional stuff. He appeared quite weak and fatigued this evening. He had a visible case of the chills, was trembling, rambling and obsessing. Everything in me says that he should be psychologically evaluated. If we have any chance at all to get him back in the light, it’s going to take a strong Therapist to help him through this as well as immediate physical nurturing. I was told by our Choreographer that during the Artist’s costume fitting with his Designer tonight they noticed he’s lost more weight. As far as I can tell there is no one taking responsibility (caring for) him on a daily basis. Where was his assistant tonight? Tonight I was feeding him, wrapping him in blankets to warm his chills, massaging his feet to calm him and calling his doctor. There were four security guards outside his door, but no one offering him a cup of hot tea. Finally, it is important for everyone to know, I believe he really wants this. It would shatter him, break his heart if we pulled the plug. He’s terribly frightened it’s all going to go away. He asked me repeatedly tonight if I was going to leave him. He was practically begging for my confidence. It broke my heart. He was like a lost boy. There still may be a chance he can rise to the occasion if we get him the help he needs.
Sincerely,
Kenny
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Walgren does not allow any of the questions which interest me so much! I am beginning to have terrible suspicions. Do they want only Conrad Murray to answer though the guilt of AEG is clear too? All the best forces thrown in one direction only?
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Anyone with a mildly-functioning conscience cannot dismiss the testimony of Dr. Steven Shafer. 17 violations from acceptable medical practice (four of them egregious) are more than enough reason to convict Murray. It doesn’t matter if Michael Jackson somehow woke up and opened the tube to free-flow Propofol, Dr. Murray was a physician and under these potentially deadly circumstances, should NEVER have left his side. Never mind that it should never have been given in a home-setting in the first place.
it’s truly sad that AEG executives involved won’t also be implicated. They are as culpable as Murray, perhaps more so.
Finally, I only wish Michael would have been thinking more clearly and not just about the concerts. He should have been willing to pursue non-invasive and non-addictive methods.
He was human and under tremendous pressure. I understand that. But those two little words….If only…..will haunt me forever.
I will let out a huge sigh of relief when this trial is over. I am not prepared for an aquittal or hung-jury. I am praying that Dr. Murray is convicted. He won’t spend any meaningful time in prison due to the current state of California’s overcrowded prisons, but he will publicly be punished for the senseless and highly preventable death of the world’s most beloved icon.
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Well, it’s interesting that Dr. Metzger said Michael didn’t believe in oral medicine. This should also refute the theory of the defense that Michael could have taken these 8 Lorazepam pills.
I don’t understand why Michael asked Dr. Metzger and Ms Lee for propofol when Murray had already ordered enough of it. There are a lot of strange things. Ms Lee’s testimony also was that Michael said doctors told him that propofol is safe and that he just needs to be monitored. So why did it not happen? What could Murray have told Michael that he agreed to let it happen that way?
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“Dr Allan Metzger testified that Michael asked him for “IV sleep medication” on April 18th, 2009, at Michael’s home. Dr. Metzger refused stating it was dangerous.
Murray is ordering propofol on April 6, 2009 and received it April 8th, I believe.So if Michael is asking Dr. Metzger 12 days after Murray has already ordered propofol, this is not making any sense! “
Susan, and now Ms. Lee also said the same – that Michael asked about Deprivan on April 19 and even asked her to find a doctor who would give it. He was supposed to have Murray at the time. And Murray had received the first shipment of Propofol. Something is terribly wrong here.
Any ideas what it could be?
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Guys, here is the information I find most important about day 16 (if I have time I’ll add some about the other witnesses). But in the meantime it is Chernoff – Dr. Shaffer – Walgren:
On second glance some of Chernoff’s questions looked logical though some were downright nasty and irrelevant.
First he asked about rapid boluses of propofol and showed a graph prepared by Dr. Shafer for his opponent Dr. White (!)
The model is trying to prove that if Murray administered 25ml of propofol slowly there was never a risk of apnea. (No, there wasn’t – only Dr. Shafer effectively proved that Michael Jackson was given a much higher dose).
Chernoff tried to compromise Dr. Shafer’s method of work by saying that Murray never said to the police that he had given 50ml of propofol or made 6 injections of it – and this means that the scientist was taking those figures “from thin air”.
But during any research in pharmacokinetics this is exactly what is usually done! Dr. Shafer had only one figure to go by – the level of profol in the femoral blood found on autopsy and all the other figures were introduced into the model for computer to process and see which combination of data would be consistent with the end result.
And what does it matter what Murray said or didn’t say to the police? Most of it was lies anyway. Dr. Shafer was working on a model which would explain the high amount of propofol in Michael Jackson’s blood though propofol is a drug which leaves the body very quickly. The only scenario which was consistent with that concentration in blood upon autopsy was a combination of an IV infusion of 100ml propofol and it still going into the body when the heart stopped beating.
This means that after the circulation stopped propofol still went on dripping, because if there had been a circulation the propofol level would have fallen within a very short period of time.
Then Chernoff raised his favourite theme of Lorazepam. He referred to the number Dr. Shafer used for calculating the half-life of Lorazepam in the stomach (from Dr. Greenblutt’s findings). According to these data the amount of the active drug in the body is cut in half every 22 minutes. Other findings show it may be 40 minutes but Dr. Shafer used the most conservative variant of 22 min.
This is an interesting tool for calculating how much active Lorazepam will stay in the body after coming into the stomach. It shows that if the initial dose was – hypothetically – 16 ml, in the first 22 minutes it will turn into 8 ml, 22 minutes later it will be 4 ml, then 2 ml, then 1 ml and so on.
I’ve made some rough calculations myself and found that if 16ml were initially taken, in 5 hours some 0, 00157ml of it would be left in the stomach. However if a different system of calculation was used – the one based on a 40min half-life of Lorazepam – the above amount would be found in the stomach in about twice as much time (around 10 hours!)
This means that Dr. Shafer’s study was really conservative and if 16ml of Lorazepam were taken, say at 02.00 am, a little bit of it would still be found at the time of death (supposedly noon time) 10 hours later.
After being tortured by Chernoff’s questions whether Dr. Shafer “could envision Lorazepam pills taken by MJ” the doctor said that before 8 o’clock he could envision it (only it doesn’t change anything in respect of the propofol intoxication Michael really died of).
Then they discussed the time when Lorazepam reaches its peak – it is 2 hours after it comes into the stomach. Dr. Shafer explained it in a fascinating manner. When a drug is swallowed, there are two processes starting to play off against each other – the stomach sends the drug into blood and the liver removes the drug from the blood (for breaking it up into metabolites), so they are more or less competing with each other in the rate at which they are doing it.
The peak concentration in the blood is when the rate of the drug coming in from the stomach is equal to the rate of it being removed by the liver, after which the liver wins and the concentration starts falling.
Dr. Shafer also determined the amount of Lorazepam in the urine and his results were based on the toxicology report. Chernoff asked a crazy question whether he had made an independent analysis of the urine to which Dr. Shafer said had no possibility to do it as he wasn’t running a lab.
He specifically looked into the urine results to see if they were consistent with oral or intravenous dosing paradigm of Lorazepam suggested by different sides in the trial.
Chernoff asked “From where is the oral paradigm coming”? implying that Dr. Shafer believed in that scenario, otherwise he wouldn’t have looked into it.
Dr. Shafer said, “From you”.
“Oh”, said Chernoff.
After Lorazepam is metabolized in the liver, its metabolite is excreted by kidneys (93% of it leaves the body that way). And Dr. Shafer checked for Lorazepam metabolite (lorazepam gluconoride) in the urine based on the projection that 16ml of Lorazepam were taken at 8 and 10 in the morning. This was evidently ruled out as Chernoff didn’t venture to ask further questions here.
Instead he switched over to Propofol. Chernoff produced Dr. Shafer’s final model (where Murray is giving a drip of 100ml of propofol) and asked an incredible question trying to impress the jury with its nasty implications,
• “You constructed a simulation where just by chance at the exact time the bottle ran out Michael Jackson also died. Is that sort of a coincidence”?
• Dr. Shafer politely answered,“No, it was my intent”.
It was indeed Dr. Shafer’s intent to work out a model which would be totally consistent with all the data available – the major (and probably the only one) was the level of propofol in Michael Jackson’s blood found on autopsy. Nothing else was available to him due to the lack of medical charts and records which Murray failed to make.
Then Chernoff asked if Dr. Shafer could make a projection of the level of propofol metabolite (called propofol glucoronide too) in the urine on the basis of his 100ml simulation (and confirm it this way).
Chernoff gave Dr. Shafer a research paper showing that this metabolite in the urine should be equal to 50% of the administered drug. Dr. Shafer said that the process is a little more complex as at least 25% of propofol goes to the bile, so making the determination on that point would require research.
The toxicology report showed the level and number of propofol as a drug but didn’t show the number of it as its metabolite (propofol glucoronide). If there is a propofol glucoronide number and the time within which the glucoronide was excreted to urine it will be possible to make a model and determine the consistency of the dose with the gluconoride number, said Dr. Shafer.
And this means we can expect the show to go on. Now the defense will go after the number of propofol glucoronide in the urine (and there were at least two samples of it – one in the jug, and another taken from the bladder on autopsy) and if they obtain those results they will compare them with Dr. Shafer’s final simulation trying to discredit it.
Given that there are several samples of urine (the one in the room was taken at an unknown time) there might be a multitude of variants, and the defense will try to use them to turn a totally clear picture into something vague.
Chernoff raised another favourite subject, that of Demerol, and confronted Dr. Shafer with another bullying statement “You venturedan opinion that Michael Jackson was not addicted to Demerol” (though you are no expert in the field)?
“That’s correct,” said Dr. Shafer.
“You decided to venture an opinion which is outside your area of expertise?”
Dr. Shafer explained that he takes care of patients with various types of addictions on a very regular basis, but doesn’t consider himself a specialist in the field (with all his modesty I bet he is a much better expert in addiction than Murray in his cardiology).
When re-examined by Walgren he developed that point and said that the records kept by Dr. Klein were not sufficient for him to say that Michael Jackson was an addict. Based on those records alone it is not possible to say that.
Dr. Shafer also confirmed that no Demerol or its metabolites were found in Michael Jackson’s blood, urine or wherever, and Demerol didn’t contribute to his death (so all Chernoff’s talk about its usage is the unnecessary thundering of the air).
It is clear that in the future we can expect Chernoff to claim things like Michael Jackson developing a heart problem due to “rapid withdrawal from Demerol”. He will also claim that it wasn’t not a respiratory arrest but a heart arrest that brought Michael into a coma.
Our Lynette has already commented on the so-called “rapid withdrawal” from Demerol:
“There is no such thing as rapid withdrawal! Withdrawal is withdrawal and it has to take a certain time to progress.If there were such a thing as rapid withdrawal there would be no such thing as addiction. If there were rapid withdrawal no one would have a problem with it because it would be over with rapidly. See how stupid that idea is.
Withdrawal takes about 72 hours to reach it’s peak and depending on the drug involved in this case Demerol it would take up to 2 weeks for the person to stop having the symptoms.
I just spent the last 12 hours today with 7 people that are actively in withdrawal from opiates and believe me when I tell you that I would like nothing more than to ease their suffering and have them go through rapid withdrawal however I can’t because there is no such thing.
However since there was no Demerol found in Michael’s system we have every reason to believe that he had no problem with it at all, so any withdrawal from it is again just the usual thundering of the air.
On Friday last week Chernoff had issues with Dr. Shafer’s using an unknown infusion line for his staggering demonstration. Dr. Shafer had indeed bought an analog. At redirect examination on day 16 David Walgren explained that Dr. Shafer had to use a different type of a vented infusion set as he did not have access to the original one.
Now they compared the one used at the demonstration with the standard SeaCoast infusion vented set available to Murray and didn’t find any difference between the two, except that the SeaCoast product was a much smaller and less cumbersome one (and so was easier to put into a pocket).
Walgren showed two entries from SeaCoast company’s medical records which supplied Murray with those vented lines and it turned out that under two shipments alone (made on April 14 and May 12, 2009) Murray received 150 infusion lines of this type!
• Let me remind you that a vented line is required for drawing Propofol from a glass bottle – this bottle won’t shrink when the drug is drawn out of it and due to a vacuum created inside it needs air for the liquid to freely flow. A vented infusion line allows to introduce air inside the bottle.
Walgren also spoke about the slit in the saline bag – it struck Dr. Shafer as extraordinary (and therefore suggested to him that the vial of propofol was put inside it). This was an answer to Chernoff’s earlier question about how Dr. Shafer came to the idea that the bottle was inside the bag (the implication was that the idea was suggested to him by the prosecution).
David Walgren referred to Friday’s testimony of Dr. Shafer (the one which I haven’t covered yet) and also said something very important about Lorazepam.
It turns out that Dr. Shafer asked the toxicologist Dan Anderson to differentiate between Lorazapam proper and Lorazepam gluconoride in the stomach and when the differentiation was made he came up to even a smaller number of the drug proper remaining there – it was only 1/250th part of a 2ml tablet (before that differentiation was made the overall result for both Lorazepam and its metabolite had been 1/43d of one tablet).
And if there was almost no Lorazepam as a drug in Michael’s stomach it means that either it was not taken orally at all – or was taken, but very long ago, so that its traces had practically disappeared from the stomach.
And if all Lorazepam is found there mostly as a metabolite (as in this case) it means it came from an IV injection into the blood after which it goes through the liver and then splashes into the stomach. The longer it takes the more of it will accumulate in the stomach.
Following Chernoff’s criticism last Friday (that Michael could not receive Lorazepam IV at 12.00 am as he was not home yet) Walgren presented a new simulation made by Dr. Shafer which shifted the administration of the drug to a later time when Michael was already home. The model started later but had shorter intervals between the injections.
The result was the same and was consistent with the level of Lorazepam in Michael’s blood found on autopsy.
Then Walgren returned to Chernoff’s statements that all Dr. Shafer words were “his opinion only”.
Dr. Shafer said that though it was his opinion, it was based on almost 30 years of expertise. And the standards of care heavily violated by Murray were not just taken “from thin air”, but are published by his professional society and are obligatory for all anesthesiologists and physicians giving anesthesia.
David Walgren even referred to Murray’s false statement where he said that Michael “liked pushing propofol himself”– If that were the case and the doctor was aware of the problem wasn’t putting the patient at risk an even graver violation on his part?
Dr. Shafer said that he was struck by Dr. Murray’s words and based his opinion of negligence partially on his words too (this was disregarded by the court as hearsay, but whatever it is this is what Dr. Shafer thinks).
Walgren asked if there was any other factual scenario – based on the data – which would explain the level of propofol in Michael Jackson’s blood other than the use of 100ml of Propofol by IV?
Dr. Shafer said that he had been unable to create any other model which would be consistent with the femoral blood level on autopsy.
• Let me remind you that according to his model Michael was put on a drip and his death occurred during the infusion. First hisbreathing stopped, then ten minutes later his heart stopped , but the propofol went on pouring into his body. Since the circulation stopped propofol was no longer metabolized and therefore reached the high level shown in the autopsy report.
David Walgren reminded the jury that Dr. Shafer was making simulations not only for the prosecution but for the defense too. Dr. Shafer said that if they had requested some other models from him he would have of course done it (what a rare witness Dr. Shafer is!).
Walgren is also evidently struck by his witness and asked him questions about his pro bono work. Dr. Shafer said that it was his custom not to charge fees in any kind of consultations. He would provide consultations for both sides – to defend doctors and provide his opinion in a malpractice cases.
He said that he adhered to the same principles in his research work too – he made available the results of his work to his colleagues all over the world on a free basis. He developed numerous computer models concerning the administration of drugs and made this software available to other doctors via the Internet. When Walgren asked him if it could have a great monetary value Dr. Shafer was too modest to say that it could have brought him a fortune and merely said “there would have been some”.
Walgren asked, “Why do you do it?”
“It helps promote science”, said Dr. Shafer.
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What means “major own goal”? I think he was a hostile witness.
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Dr Metzger was not the damning witness the defense hoped for. UK news reports are calling his testimony a ‘major own goal” for the defense team.
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Day 16, October 24, 2011
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Part 4:
Part 5:
Part 6/Last:
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Thank you for putting this into summary , some of the witnesses were truly amazing.
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Regarding today’s testimony (October 25). Dr Allan Metzger testified that Michael asked him for “IV sleep medication” on April 18th, 2009, at Michael’s home. Dr. Metzger refused stating it was dangerous.
Murray is ordering propofol on April 6, 2009 and received it April 8th, I believe.
So if Michael is asking Dr. Metzger 12 days after Murray has already ordered propofol, this is not making any sense!
Nurse Cherilyn Lee was on the stand as testimony ended today. They are up to the date of April 19th with her. If she is going to say that Michael asked her for propofol, which she will likely do, as that is when the world first heard it mentioned …… again, why? if Murray was already placing his orders?
Was Michael aware of what Murray was doing?
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Yet another idea pulled by the defence,
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Michael died from lack of oxygen.Murray first observed that he did not
breathe,noted a rapid pulserate and a thready pulse. All specialist witnesses state that he would have been saved by rarapid ventilation.
The mild brainswelling noted in the autopsy is typical for deats from lack of oxygen.
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