Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray case goes to jury
Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray case goes to jury
(about 2 hours later)
The jury have begun deliberations in the case against the doctor charged with the death of Michael Jackson.
The jury has begun deliberations in the case against the doctor charged with the death of Michael Jackson.
Prosecutors concluded their case by saying Dr Conrad Murray's care of the pop star had been "bizarre" and left the pop star's children fatherless.
The panel must reach a verdict on a charge of involuntary manslaughter against Dr Conrad Murray.
The defence countered that the singer had caused his own death in June 2009 with an overdose of a sedative.
Fans of Jackson, who died in June 2009, are camped outside the Los Angeles court, carrying signs asking for a "one way ticket to jail" for the accused.
If convicted, Dr Murray, 58, could face up to four years in prison and lose his licence to practise medicine.
If convicted, Dr Murray, 58, could face four years in prison and lose his licence to practise medicine.
During Thursday's closing statements after the nearly six-week trial, the prosecution projected images of Jackson's grief-stricken children on a giant screen.
The cardiologist denies giving Jackson an overdose of the powerful sedative propofol to help him sleep.
Deputy District Attorney David Walgren told the jury: "For Michael Jackson's children this case goes on forever because they do not have a father.
The jury of seven men and five women heard from 49 witnesses and saw more than 300 pieces of evidence over the six weeks of the trial.
"They do not have a father because of the actions of Conrad Murray."
There was no sign of Dr Murray on Friday or his legal team, but they are to receive a two-hour notice once a verdict is reached.
The children, Prince, Paris and Blanket, who range in ages from 9 to 14, were not in court, but Jackson's parents and several of his siblings were present.
During closing statements on Thursday, the prosecution said the world had lost a "genius", while the defence characterised Murray as "a little fish in a big dirty pond".
Mr Walgren cited Dr Murray's delay in calling 911 and phone records that indicated the physician had been on the phone during Jackson's final hours, when he should have been attending to his patient.
Prosecutors said Dr Murray's care of the pop star had been "bizarre" and left the pop star's children fatherless.
"What was so pressing that he just couldn't care for Michael Jackson?" Mr Walgren asked the court.
They projected images of Jackson's grief-stricken children on a giant screen.
He also reminded the jury that Dr Murray had failed to tell the paramedics and emergency room doctors how he had been giving Jackson the powerful sedative propofol as a treatment for insomnia.
The children, Prince, Paris and Blanket, who range in ages from 9 to 14, were not in court on Thursday, but Jackson's parents and several of his siblings were present.
"That is consciousness of guilt," Mr Walgren told the court. "That is Conrad Murray knowing full well what caused Michael Jackson's death."
Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said the accused had caused the star's death through negligence and greed, and had essentially been experimenting on Jackson.
But the accused's legal team said in its closing statement that Jackson's death was not Dr Murray's fault.
The defence countered that the singer had caused his own death by injecting a dose of propofol while his doctor was out of the room.
They said Jackson had caused his own death by injecting a dose of propofol while his doctor was out of the room.
"They want you to convict Dr Murray for the actions of Michael Jackson," defence lawyer Ed Chernoff said.
"If it was anybody else, would this doctor be here today?" defence attorney Ed Chernoff asked the jury.
Dr Murray chose not to testify in his own defence.
Mr Chernoff said prosecutors had failed to prove that Dr Murray had committed a crime by giving Jackson doses of propofol as a sleep aid in the singer's bedroom.
"They want you to convict Dr Murray for the actions of Michael Jackson," Mr Chernoff said.
Dr Murray, who denies involuntary manslaughter, chose not to testify in his own defence.
