CONRAD MURRAY TRIAL: Defense Says Michael Jackson Caused His Own Death
Posted on Tue Sep 27th, 2011 11:10am PDT By X17 Staff
Defense attorney Ed Chernoff has begun opening statements in Dr. Conrad Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial on Tuesday.
Chernoff's basis in Murray's defense is that Jackson administered drugs to himself without Murray's knowledge. Chernoff said:
- “During the 10 hours on June 25, 2009 ... he did an act without his doctor’s knowledge, without his doctor’s permission, against his orders –- he did an act that caused his own death.
Michael Jackson swallowed eight 2 mg Lorazepam pills. ... He did this when Dr. Murray was not around. ... Michael Jackson self-administered a dose of Propofol ... that created a perfect storm in his body that killed him instantly."
-Chernoff said Murray is "no celebrity doctor ... he doesn't have an office in Beverly Hills. ... He literally saves lives. He takes care of only people who have had a heart attack or are about to."
-Chernoff says Murray provided Jackson Propofol for two months for Jackson for sleep, then Murray began a process to wean Jackson off of Propofol.
-Chernoff says Jackson demanded that Murray give him Propofol so he could sleep before a rehearsal.
-Chernoff says other patients of Murray's will be brought in to testify on Murray's behalf.
-During opening statements from the prosecution (first) and the defense, Jackson's brother Jermaine and sister Janet held hands across sister Rebbe's lap in court. Michael's mother, Katherine, teared up.
SEE THE GALLERY Jackson Family Arrive For Conrad Murray's Trial
