(News Today) - Michael Jackson’s doctor waited for up to 21 minutes before raising the alarm after the pop star stopped breathing, a court heard today. Dr Conrad Murray called the singer’s security team and ordered a guard to pile drugs and other medical paraphernalia into his bag before calling emergency services, it was claimed.Jackson’s personal doctor is accused of being responsible for his death and is facing a charge of involuntary manslaughter. A preliminary hearing to decide if he should face a full trial began in Los Angeles yesterday, as prosecutors outlined the case against him.
The court heard he had given the king of pop a cocktail of sleeping drugs and a ‘powerful anaesthetic’ in the hours before he stopped breathing. Prosecutors claim Murray, 57, was then distracted by a phone call and said his later attempts at resuscitating Jackson were ‘ineffectual’.
District attorney David Walgren told the court: ‘There are a number of actions displayed by Dr Murray that show an extreme deviation from the standard of care.’
Mr Walgren said Murray, who was paid £100,000-a-month to treat the king of pop, had failed to tell paramedics or hospital doctors that he had given Jackson an intravenous drip containing propofol, an surgical anaesthetic.
Jackson’s sister LaToya and brother Jermaine watched from the public gallery with their mother Katherine as Mr Walgren described the 50-year-old’s final hours in June 2009.
The star had been rehearsing for a worldwide tour, This Is It, which was due to begin in London’s O2 arena later that year. He rehearsed late into the night and did not return to his mansion until 1am on June 25.
The court heard Murray treated him in his bedroom, and gave him a valium pill at 1.30am, followed by an intravenous drip containing the sedative lorazepam. He administered more sedatives at 3am and 7.30am, and just before 11am he put Jackson on a drip containing propofol.
Court documents describe Jackson as an insomniac who used propofol to sleep, and called the drug his ‘milk’. The court heard the anaesthetic affects the respiratory system, and patients can stop breathing if not monitored correctly.
At 11.51am Murray was phoned call and spoke for 11 minutes, but stopped talking during the call. Mr Walgren said: ‘That may be when Dr Murray first paid enough attention to learn of Michael Jackson’s death.’
At 12.12pm, ten minutes after his phone call finished, Murray called Jackson’s security and told them the star had had ‘a bad reaction’.
Bodyguard Alberto Alvarez was summoned and saw Murray performing ‘a one-handed version of CPR’ in a bid at resuscitation.
Mr Walgren told the court that the emergency services had still not been called at this point.
He said Murray had told Mr Alvarez to help him gather up the drugs he had used to treat Jackson. Murray told Mr Alvarez to take the drip and put it in his bag, Mr Walgren said, adding that it was only then, at 12.21pm, that he told Mr Alvarez to call 911– up to 21 minutes after the doctor first noticed the singer had stopped breathing.
Mr Walgren said Jackson was dead by the time paramedics arrived, four minutes later.
He said: ‘His eyes were fixed and dilated, they were wide open. He was cool to the touch and he was ... completely flatlined with no relevant heart action taking place. Michael Jackson was dead.’
Murray told paramedics he had given Jackson the lorazepam, but did not tell them about the propofol drip, the prosecutor claimed.
A post-mortem examination found Jackson had died of an overdose of propofol and lorazepam.
The doctor had been giving Jackson propofol six times a week for about two months before his death, Mr Walgren said. Murray admits giving Jackson sedatives and a small quantity of propofol, but denies giving the singer anything which led to his death.
'There are a number of actions displayed by Dr. Murray that show an extreme deviation from the standard of care,' Mr Walgren said.
Jackson 'didn't look well' at rehearsal
A choreographer who was the last person to work with Michael Jackson on his ill-fated concert tour told the judge the superstar seemed unwell and not in condition six days before he died, and went home early from rehearsals at his suggestion.
Kenny Ortega said he was summoned the next morning to Jackson's home and told by Dr. Conrad Murray to not try to be Jackson's doctor or psychiatrist. Murray suggested Jackson should not have been sent home because he was physically and emotionally fine, Ortega testified.
Ortega, who later directed the Jackson concert film This Is It based on rehearsal footage, said the pop star was in good spirits through most of the rehearsals and was 'excited' about the progress being made.
In the days before Jackson's death, he said, the singer told him there was nothing to worry about.
He recalled his last conversation with Jackson.
'Michael said, "I know you love me and care about me. You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine," and he gave me a big hug,' Ortega said.
On cross-examination, defense attorney Ed Chernoff asked Ortega if he had ever seen anyone having withdrawals from drugs, and the witness said he had not.
Ortega said he became concerned on June 19, 2009, when Jackson arrived at Staples Centre for rehearsal.
'He didn't look well at all. Michael was chilled and soft-spoken. ... He wasn't in the kind of condition to be at rehearsal,' Ortega said.
Under questioning by the prosecutor, Ortega described Jackson and their conversation.
'He appeared really lost. It was scary. I couldn't put my finger on it. I said, "Michael, is this the best place for you to be or do you want to go home and be with your family?"' Ortega said.
'He said, "Would you be OK with that?" I said, "OK," and he left,' the witness said.
On cross-examination, defense attorney Ed Chernoff asked Ortega if he had ever seen anyone having withdrawals from drugs, and the witness said he had not.
Ortega's presence suggested the hearing also will focus on Jackson's preparations for his the London comeback shows. Walgren said that two days before his death, the singer had a 'fabulous' rehearsal and was set to go to London in a few days.
Another witness, Jackson's personal assistant Michael Amir Williams, described Murray calling him on the day the superstar died and frantically asking him to get help from bodyguards for Jackson, who was in a bedroom.
Murray told him the singer had a "bad reaction" and that immediate help was needed, but didn't ask him to call an ambulance, Williams said.
Williams described the chaotic scene at the mansion and hospital and recalled the heartbreaking moment when DiLeo told Jackson's children their father was dead. Williams said he and Murray and everyone else were crying.
A handful of Jackson fans staked out the courthouse, displaying signs seeking justice. A few dozen more waited in line for a lottery in which five courtroom seats were awarded to the public.
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