JURORS were shown a picture of Michael Jackson lying dead on a hospital trolley yesterday as the manslaughter trial of the singer's former doctor began.
Randy Jackson and Janet Jackson hold hands as they arrive at Los Angeles Superior Court.Dr Conrad Murray is charged with causing the death of the King of Pop by negligently administering an overdose of propofol, a powerful hospital anaesthetic.
In the first five minutes of the trial, the jury was shown a picture of Jackson's pale, lifeless body, partly covered by a white sheet. It was juxtaposed with a picture of the singer taken the previous day, looking well and rehearsing on stage.
Several members of the singer's family were in court to hear the opening statements, including Jackson's mother, Katherine, and father, Joe; and siblings Jermaine, Janet, LaToya, Randy, Tito and Rebbie.
Dr Conrad Murray, flanked by his defence attorneys, listens to the prosecution's opening arguments in his involuntary manslaughter trial in Los Angeles.Dr Murray, who was being paid dollars 150,000 a month to care for Jackson, has denied the charge, claiming that he was trying to wean the singer off the powerful drug that killed him.
"The evidence . . . will show that Michael Jackson literally put his life in the hands of Conrad Murray," David Walgren, the lead prosecutor, told the court in Los Angeles in his opening statement. "That misplaced trust . . . cost Michael Jackson his life."
Dr Murray showed no emotion and made notes during proceedings. His defence team will argue that Jackson, suffering from chronic insomnia and desperate for sleep, gave himself the fatal overdose.
A photo tendered to the court shows the body of Michael Jackson lying dead on a gurney during the involuntary manslaughter trial of his doctor, Conrad Murray.The singer "caused his own death", Ed Chernoff, Dr Murray's lawyer, said. He added that Jackson swallowed eight 2mg lorazepam pills, pushing his blood concentration of the drug to 0.169 micrograms per millilitre, enough to put six people to sleep.
The singer did this when Dr Murray was not around, he said, claiming that Jackson also gave himself an extra dose of propofol, creating a "perfect storm in his body".
The trial is expected to last about five weeks.
Michael Jackson's parents Katherine Jackson and Joe Jackson arrive at Los Angeles Superior Court.
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