Jackson doctor trial jury retires to consider verdict

Michael Jackson was found lifeless at his Los Angeles mansion on 25 June, 2009, aged 50. He was later ruled to have died from an overdose of propofol, which is normally used in surgery, and sedatives.

In closing arguments prosecutors said Jackson “paid with his life” for the criminal negligence of his physician, Dr Conrad Murray.

This is not a reality show. This is reality Ed Chernoff, defence attorney

Defence lawyers said Murray was being held responsible for Jackson’s own actions.

“For a crime to be proved, the prosecution has to show that Dr Murray actually killed Michael Jackson,” defence attorney Ed Chernoff told the jury on Thursday.

“They want you to convict Dr Murray for the actions of Michael Jackson,” Mr Chernoff said.

“If it were anybody else but Michael Jackson, would this doctor be here today?”

Mr Chernoff asked the jury to forget that the victim was a pop star: “If you are going to hold Dr Murray responsible, don’t do it because it’s Michael Jackson. This is not a reality show. This is reality.”

Jackson ‘desperate to sleep’

Murray, who was hired to care for Jackson as he prepared for a series of planned comeback concerts, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

He did not testify at the trial and could face up to four years in prison if convicted. The defence argued at trial the singer was dependent on the anaesthetic propofol.

Desperate to sleep, Jackson likely gave himself a fatal dose of the powerful drug, as well as swallowing a handful of sedatives, without Murray’s knowledge, defence lawyers argued.

Prosecutor David Walgren slammed that theory in his closing argument, calling the scenario presented at trial by a key defence expert “junk science” and “garbage science.”