The world was shocked when on June 25, 2009, pop-icon Michael Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication after he suffered cardiac arrest at his home in the Holmby Hills, CA.
Autopsy results have shown that Jackson, known as the King of Pop, died at age 50 from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives.
Murray was by the singer’s side on the day he died and pleaded not guilty in January to a charge of involuntary manslaughter. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted. His lawyers will argue that Jackson drank the propofol while the doctor was away from his bedside.
Opening statements in the trial began today and the judge has said the trial will last until October 28. The jury consists of six whites, five Hispanics and one African-American.
Murray, a cardiologist and surgeon, practiced medicine inside and outside of California in recent years. His medical licenses in the state was suspended earlier this year.
The defense contends that Jackson killed himself, and that Murray was unaware that his patient swallowed a cocktail of drugs, including a dose of the anesthetic, which is not made to be swallowed.
But the prosecution played an audio of Michael Jackson slurring his speech on May 10, 2009. The audio was recorded on Dr. Murray’s iPhone while Jackson was under the heavy influence of unknown drugs.
The prosecution says Dr. Murray was fully aware of how drugged Jackson was a month before he died. Yet the doctor continued to administer potentially deadly drugs to Jackson.
Murray’s licenses in Nevada and Texas remain intact but his criminal charges prompted local medical boards to issue restrictions that prohibits him from using or administering most anesthetic agents, including propofol.
Stay tuned people as all of the dark details will be revealed before it’s over!
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