Michael Jackson hearing: Dr. Conrad Murray withheld information about powerful drug, prosecutor says

Los Angeles Times 01/04/2011 17:17

Michael Jackson’s personal physician caused the pop singer’s death by abandoning his patient, performing ineffective CPR, failing to call 911 in time, and hiding from paramedics and emergency room doctors that he had given Jackson a powerful anesthetic used in surgery, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Deputy Dist. Atty. David Walgren made the comments in opening statements for the doctor’s preliminary hearing, which will determine whether there is enough evidence for Murray to stand trial.

Dr. Conrad Murray stands accused of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson’s June 25, 2009 death.

Walgren outlined for Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor the time line of events that led up to Jackson’s death. He repeatedly emphasized that Jackson’s final rehearsal at Staples Center had been “energetic” and “fabulous.”

“Michael left the rehearsal very optimistic for the future,” he told the judge.

After the singer returned to his Holmby Hills estate, Walgren said Murray gave Jackson various medications, including benzodiazepines such as lorazepam or Valium, throughout the night.

Sometime between 10:40 and 11 the next morning, Murray gave the singer a dose of propofol, a dangerous anesthetic normally used in surgery. He then made a phone call around 11:51 a.m. and about 10 minutes into the call he appeared to first realize there was something wrong with his patient, the prosecutor said.

Yet rather than calling 911, Murray’s next move was to call Jackson’s security personnel, most of whom weren’t at Jackson’s home, Walgren said.