(Cover) - EN Showbiz - The jury sitting on Dr. Conrad Murray's trial are deliberating their verdict.
Murray has been accused of the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson, who died of acute Propofol intoxication in June 2009. He has pleaded not guilty and has been on trial in Los Angeles, with the court hearing evidence over 22 days.
The jury was sent to deliberate at 8.30am PST today. The group consists of seven men and five women. Before they were asked to go and consider their verdict a foreperson was picked.
"Legal experts say it's impossible to predict how long the jury will be out but since there is only one count (involuntary manslaughter) for the panel to consider and given the fact that its Friday and the jurors may be anxious to start their weekend, some predict the verdict could come relatively quickly," RadarOnline.com reports.
Michael's family, including his mother Katherine and sister La Toya, have been regulars in the courtroom. They were not there this morning, but the court will be given a two hour warning once the jury has reached a decision. That will give those involved, such as Jackson's family, time to get to court.
Propofol is a powerful anaesthetic usually used to put surgery patients to sleep in hospital. Jackson was using it to ease his insomnia, but Murray has denied giving him the fatal dose. The doctor's legal team maintains the King of Pop injected himself and took sedatives, resulting in his death.
Judge Michael Pastor has reportedly told the jurors that to return a not guilty verdict they must all agree that Jackson's died as a result of an accident not reckless behaviour by Murray.
In all 49 witness have been called during the trial, with the closing arguments coming yesterday.
Prosecutor David Walgren went first, and alleged Murray was negligent. He also brought up Jackson's children.
"Michael Jackson trusted Conrad Murray. He trusted him with his life," he said. "He trusted him with his own individual life and the future lives of his children, trusting that Conrad Murray, as he slept, would care for him so that in the morning he would awake to share a meal with his children.
"For [Jackson's children], this case doesn't end today or tomorrow or the next day. For Michael's children, this case will go on forever because they do not have a father. They do not have a father because of the actions of Conrad Murray."
The physician's team countered that he had been pulled into a situation he had no hope of rectifying.
"They want you to convict Dr. Murray for the actions of Michael Jackson," attorney Edward Chernoff said. "They just won't tell you that.
"[Murray's] greatest personality defect is his greatest character strength: he got brought into this situation because he thought he could help. He was wrong - because Dr. Murray had no control over this situation. He was just a little fish in a big, dirty pond."
Murray chose not to testify at the trial. If found guilty he faces four years in prison and will have his medical licence revoked. (C) Cover Media