Murray had agreed to be MJ’s person physician back in 2009 when the pop sensation was preparing for his This is It tour. Through out the trial Murray did not testify, but had previously acknowledged to LA police that on the morning of the singer’s death he had administered the drug propofol and other sedatives but stated that what killed the singer is not the dose that he gave to him, but the dose that Jackson allegedly gave to himself when Murray had left the room.
Michael Jackson, 50, died on June 25, 2009, of an overdose of the surgical anesthetic propofol, aggravated by effects of the sedative lorazepam. Murray, 58, was charged with a single count of involuntary manslaughter. He pleaded not guilty. I watched the Dateline Special on the case last Friday, and the story had totally baffled me, because Murray’s story was so inconsistent as to what happened in the last 24 hours of MJ’s life, and unfortunately we will never know the absolute truth of what actually went down in those final hours.
What remains true is that Murray did not have 911 called right away when Michael Jackson was found not breathing and essentially had a role in his death. In the special that was aired on Friday evening Janet Jackson was interviewed and she said that she was ready for the verdict, and had hoped that her family would find the justice that they had sought since her brother’s death.
Prosecuting attorney, David Walgren said Murray caused Michael Jackson‘s death through acts of “criminal negligence” in using a hospital-grade drug for insomnia in Jackson’s home without proper monitoring and resuscitation equipment. Murray also acted negligently in delaying 20 minutes before calling 911, attempting CPR incompetently and failing to tell rescue personnel he had used propofol, Walgren said. A negligent failure to act can be involuntary manslaughter under California law. Walgren adopted this theory, too, saying Murray had failed to fulfill a doctor’s legal duty to care for a patient, and after watching the Dateline special I definitely agree with this.
What many are saying and have said is that if this wasn’t a profile case than Murray wouldn’t have even been a factor in the case itself. Check back here for an updated story once Murray is sentenced. What do you think about the verdict? Let us know!
