(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Michael Jackson had allegedly stopped breathing for around 21 minutes before Dr. Conrad Murray called for help, a court has heard.
The singer died, aged 50, in June 2009 and his official cause of death was acute Propofol intoxication by intravenous injection of another. Murray, Jacksons personal physician, has been charged with his involuntary manslaughter, which he denies. A preliminary hearing began in Los Angeles yesterday, during which it will be decided if he should face a full trial. It will last around two weeks.
Prosecutors have alleged Murray had given Jackson many different drugs in the run up to his death, in an effort to help him sleep. Among them was Propofol, an anaesthetic usually used to put surgery patients to sleep.
According to Conrad Murray at 10.30am he is slowly injecting Michael Jackson with Propofol, Prosecutor David Walgren said. "At some point we know Michael ceases to breathe and dies. The evidence will show that by all accounts he was dead prior to medics arriving.
"It will show there were only two people in the room - Michael Jackson and Conrad Murray - and Michael is deceased.
It is claimed Murray took a phone call which held his attention, and then took as long as 21 minutes to dial emergency services after realising Jackson needed help. Prosecutors also allege he asked the pop stars minder Alberto Alvarez to take away items from the scene before other people arrived, while he tried to revive him.
Alvarez, obeying the order of the physician, grabs the IV bag and puts that in the bag. Only then is he instructed to call 911, Walgren claimed.
Murray also apparently called Jacksons personal assistant Michael Amir Williams before dialling emergency services. Williams described the call, explaining Murray sounded frantic, and spoke of how he and Jacksons manager Frank Dileo had to break the news of Jacksons death to his three children Prince Michael, 13, Paris, 12, and eight-year-old Prince Michael II, known as Blanket.
I walked in with Frank. Prince was saying to make sure to tell the doctors that Daddy is allergic to this and that, he explained. "Then Frank blurted out he had had a heart attack and was dead.
Williams also alleged Murray asked him to get rid of some cream Jackson had at his home, as he thought the singing sensation wouldnt want people to know he used it.
Murray performed Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on Jackson to try to revive him, but it has been claimed he asked for help with the procedure. Security Guard Faheem Muhammad was in the room where Jackson lay, and told the court Murray appeared panicked.
I recall him being in a sort of panic state and I recall him shortly after asking if anyone in the room knew CPR, he said.
Around 20 witnesses are expected to take the stand during the hearing. Yesterday, Michael mother Katherine Jackson, sister La Toya Jackson and brother Jermaine Jackson were in attendance. (C) Cover Media