Michael Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter after a trial that painted him as a reckless caregiver who administered a lethal dose of powerful anesthetic that killed the pop star.  The verdict against Dr. Conrad Murray marked the latest chapter in one of the pop culture’s most shocking tragedies which is the death of the king of Pop in the middle of the singer’s heavily promoted come back concerts.  Members of Jackson family, including sister LaToya wept quietly after the verdict was read.

Murray sat stone-faced during the verdict and was handcuffed and taken into custody without bail until sentencing on Nov. 29.  He appeared calm as officials led him out of the courtroom.  There was a shriek in the courtroom when the verdict was read, and the crowd erupted outside the courthouse.  The jury deliberated less than nine hours.  The Houston cardiologist, 58, faces a sentence of up to four years in prison and he could lose his medical license.  Murray’s attorneys left the courtroom without commenting.

In Las Vegas, a former Murray patient and current friend, Donna DiGiacomo, sobbed and said she thought the jury was under overwhelming pressure to convict.  According to her, Dr. Murray did not deserve the sentence and they needed a scapegoat.  The former Long Island N.Y. teacher’s aide said she did not believe Murray did anything to intentionally harm Jackson.

Jackson died on June 25, 2009, and details of his final days dribbled out over several months.  The complete story, however, finally emerged during the six-week trial. It was the tale of a tormented genius on the brink of what might have been his greatest triumph with one impediment standing in his way, which is extreme insomnia.  Testimony came from medical experts, household employees and Murray’s former girlfriends, among others.  The trial featured 50 witnesses and 22 days of testimony.

The most shocking moments, however, came when prosecutors displayed a large picture of Jackson’s gaunt, lifeless body on a hospital gurney and played the sound of his drugged, slurred voice, as recorded by Murray just weeks before the singer’s death.  Jackson talked about plans for a fantastic children’s hospital and his hope of cementing a legacy larger than that of Elvis Presley or The Beatles.

The singer was heard saying that they have to be phenomenal referring to his “This Is It” concert in London.  He said that when people leave his show he wanted them to say that they never seen nothing like that in their life and it is amazing because he is the greatest entertainer in the world.
Throughout the trial, Jackson family members watched from the spectator gallery, fans gathered outside with signs and T-shirts demanding, “Justice for Michael,” and an international press corps broadcast reports around the world. The trial was televised and streamed on the Internet.  In closing arguments, the prosecutor said the mystery of what happened behind the closed doors of Jackson’s bedroom on the fatal day probably would never be solved.

The photo of Michael Jackson’s lifeless body on the Autopsy table were allowed in the trial of Dr. Murray, the physician accused of Involuntary Manslaughter due to the death of the “King of Pop,” as an important piece of evidence on the morning of October 11 proceedings.  The picture shown in the television was bare and blurred out MJ’s private part for appropriateness sake but allowed viewers to take a glimpse of the superstar following his June 25 death.  Seeing the dead body of the singer in a hospital gurney, the photo was taken a few hours after the singer died.  There are plenty of IV hook-ups and medical tape seen in the image, items considered by the prosecution as used in providing the singer the lethal dose of propofol.   The date on the tiles beside the singer’s body reads August 25, 2009.  However, according to Dr. Christopher Rogers, the date was a simple error and should read June 25, 2009.  Dr. Rogers is the forensic pathologist responsible for the autopsy reports for Jackson’s death and the one who concluded that MJ died of an anesthetic overdose ruling his death as Homicide.

While the expert pathologist was on the witness stand, various pictures of Jackson’s body were shown in the proceeding of the case.  Rodger’s testified that he found the defense’s claim that Jackson self-introduced the fatal dose of proprfol while Murray is out of the room for a few moments as “unreasonable.”  He said that Murray had “imperfect control over the dose and gave him too much.”  Additionally, Rogers said that he found no traces of milky white liquid in Jackson’s mouth, esophagus or stomach, leading him to conclude it was highly unlikely that Jackson ingested it orally.  Moreover, there were no fingerprints of Jackson seen in the bottle.  Last Friday, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren played a taped interview of Conrad Murray with Detective Scott Smith in the trial wherein he admitted that he gave Jackson propofol.  Towards the end of the interview, Murray discussed about how he told Katherine Jackson and Michael’s children about his death.  “You save a lot of people.  Why didn’t you save my daddy?”  He remembered Paris Jackson asking him.  “I know you tried you best, I know you tried your best.”  Then, Murray said, “she asked to see him, and then that was another thing.  How do you let the children see him?”

An inside source revealed that the doctor will still depend himself after all is said and done.  “The fact that the jury has heard Dr. Murray admitting to giving the propofol almost forces Dr. Murray to testify.  His lawyers have been preparing him to take the stand.  However, there are significant problems.  Dr. Murray can come across as very, very arrogant, and seems to be know-it-all.  This could alienate the jury very quickly.  If Murray hadn’t given that interview to cops, his lawyers probably wouldn’t be seriously considering putting him on the stand.”

Last October 8, 2011, a tribute concert for the late king of pop, Michael Jackson was held at the Millennium stadium at Cardiff, Wales.  In spite of the setbacks surrounding the concert from the disagreement among family members, a backlash from fans, withdrawals of performers and ticketing issues, the show still goes on.  The concert was organized by the MJ’s mother, Katherine Jackson along with his siblings LaToya Jackson, Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson and Jackie Jackson in cooperation with Global Live Events.  Katherine Jackson said, “Michael gave his entire life to the world through his love, his music and his devotion to healing the planet. I am positive that this event will be an event great enough in scale, talent and imagination to form a worthy celebration of Michael’s life.”  The concert was organized for the benefit of Aids Project Los Angeles and Prince’s Trust charities and a portion will be placed in a trust fund for Jackson’s children.  Some of Jackson’s sibling’s – Randy, Jermaine, and Janet  Jackson – did not attend the concert along with several relatives, the official Michael Jackson fans club and the singer’s executors as they claim the concert will distract from the involuntary manslaughter case trial against Jackson’s former physician, Dr. Conrad Murray.  Randy and Jermaine Jackson said in a statement:

“While we wholeheartedly support the spirit of a tribute that honours our brother, we find it impossible to support an event that is due to take place during the criminal trial surrounding Michael’s death. As everyone knows, those proceedings commence September 20th, and this Michael Forever concert takes place in Cardiff, Wales, on 8 October. In light of this, we feel it is inappropriate to be involved with such an ill-timed event and its promoter, Global Live. Furthermore, the decision to proceed with this concert disrespects opinions and wishes expressed in the strongest terms to Global Live during conversations in April when this event was presented to the majority of the family as an idea already in its advanced stages. There will come a time and place for an amazing and deserving tribute to Michael. But we feel that the most important tribute we can give to our brother at this time is to seek justice in his name.”

Given the ongoing trial over Jackson’s death, it is always nice to pay tribute the “King of Pop’s” legacy.  Featuring performances by Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Leona Lewis, Ne-Yo, Craig David, Pixie Lott, Alexandra Burke, Alien Ant Farm and Motown legend Smokey Robinson as well as a pre-taped video performance by Beyoncé, the show was hosted by Oscar award winner actor, Jamie Foxx and British TV presenter Fearne Cotton.  This one-time event was aired to almost 30 countries worldwide.   MJ’s children – Prince, Blanket and Paris – were present in the event wearing his signature looks.  Paris Jackson wearing a red leather jacket with ‘Thriller’ style told the crowd, “We’re very happy to be here on this special night to honor our father.”

The death of the king of pop, Michael Jackson has been shocking news for every people near to him, his family, friends, acquaintances and even fans.  It caused outpouring grief around the world, creating a dramatic resurrection of his music and legacy.  Back on June 25, 2009, the singer died of acute propofol intoxication leading to cardiac arrest at his home in Holmby Hills neighborhood in Los Angeles.  Jackson’s death was ruled as a homicide, accusing Jackson’s personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray causing his death due to his neglectful medical practice.  Investigators found out that Jackson was administered with propofol along with lorazepam and midazolam, which are antianxiety drugs.

The trial against Dr. Murray formally started on September 27, 2011 with the charge of involuntary manslaughter.  This being the issue, the prosecution did not intend to mean that Dr. Murray intentionally killed Jackson rather the medical malpractice committed by the doctor in helping the singer sleep through the use of  the surgical drug, propofol, which should not be the case.  Propofol is a very dangerous drug that is administered only in the confines where there are enough equipment for life support and professional monitoring in case of its untoward effects.  This drug is not intended to help a person fall asleep for months, as no qualified physician is allowed to practice such act.  It appears that Dr. Murray being compensated by Jackson with $150,000 a month agreed to provide the singer with propofol in spite of his knowledge of the drugs fatal consequences that ultimately leads to the singer’s death.  The defendant previously plead not guilty of the accusations and turns out to be pointing Jackson as the reason for his own death as he tries to take some dose without the doctor’s awareness.  The doctor faces four years of imprisonment and loss of medical license if convicted.

Just recently, a more than four-minute recording of the superstar were found on Murray’s cell phone. There, Jackson was in a rambled and slurred voice.  The recording was known to be made six weeks before the singer died.  In the call, Jackson is heard telling Murray his plans of using the proceeds of his comeback concert for building a world-class children hospital.  He envisioned that this will be a part of his legacy to the world and it will be big enough to house a million children with a movie theatre and game room.   He was hoping that the patients would be spared from some of the pain from his own life.  The singer tells to Murray that he is in a pursuit of accomplishing something that Elvis Presley and The Beatles did not.

“That will be remembered more than my performances,” Jackson is heard saying. “My performance will be up there helping my children and always be my dream. I love them. I love them because I didn’t have a childhood … I feel their pain. I feel their hurt. I can deal with it.”

In the end of the recording, Jackson’s voice is heard mumbling ominously, “I am asleep.”