About Michael Jackson's justice/Murray's trial/ Other Statements

Kenny Ortega - Kenny Ortega: 'I Feared Michael Jackson Was Too Ill For This Is It Concerts'
28 September 2011 01:31

Kenny Ortega: 'I Feared Michael Jackson Was Too Ill For This Is It Concerts'

Choreographer-turned-moviemaker Kenny Ortega has revealed he had grave concerns about Michael Jackson's health during rehearsals for the King of Pop's This Is It comeback concerts.
Ortega became the first witness for the prosecution during the opening day of Dr. Conrad Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial on Tuesday (27Sep11), and he told jurors he felt his friend, Jackson, was too ill to perform a series of 50 concerts.
Ortega, the director of the ill-fated comeback concerts, revealed Jackson showed up at rehearsals too ill to dance a week before his death in June, 2009, and his appearance prompted the choreographer to write an email to a concert promoter, addressing his concerns.
Reading the correspondence in court on Tuesday afternoon (27Sep11), Ortega said, "Everything in me says he (Jackson) should be psychologically evaluated... There still may be a chance he can rise to the occasion if we get him the help he needs."
But the Dirty Dancing choreographer testified that he was sternly told to leave Jackson's medical affairs to the experts when he approached Dr. Murray about the singer's medical condition.
Murray is accused of administering the fatal dose of anaesthetic Propofol that cost Jackson his life. His lawyers maintain the exhausted King of Pop injected himself with the drug in a desperate bid to relieve pain and get some much needed rest.
Following Ortega, Aeg Live promoter Paul Gongaware took the stand and told prosecutors that Jackson was on top form when he announced the This Is It concerts at London's O2 Arena, and demanded 21 extra shows when the first 10 sold out.
Gongaware revealed the pop superstar was obsessed with beating Prince's record of 21 shows at the London venue.
In total, Jackson signed on to perform 50 shows in London.


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LOU FERRIGNO
Michael Seemed Fine to Me


Lou Ferrigno -- Michael Jackson's friend and fitness guru for decades -- tells TMZ MJ showed no signs of physical distress during workouts, as recently as 2 weeks before the singer died.

Lou's account differs from some of the statements in court -- that Michael was deteriorating in the weeks before his death.

Lou says two weeks before Jackson died, he went to MJ's home and trained him for an hour. Michael did cardio on the treadmill, used the exercise ball, worked with some light weights, completed a bunch of core exercises, and did a lot of stretching.

Lou says Michael's energy level was very good, but he did complain that he was upset because he was having trouble sleeping.

Lou says he had been training Michael 2 to 3 times a week for the tour ... and aside from seeming "very stressed out," he appeared in good health.

And this is eerie ... Lou says as he left Michael's house the last time -- two weeks before MJ's death -- Jackson said, "Take care of yourself." Lou said, "I'm going to see you next week." Michael just repeated, "Take care of yourself." Lou feels Michael knew something bad was about to happen.

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CONRAD MURRAY
Knotty Strategy for
Manslaughter Defense



Dr. Conrad Murray is handling one ultra-important aspect of his defense all by himself -- picking out the snazzy ties he's wearing to his manslaughter trial each day.

Sources connected to doc Murray tell us he is taking a serious, yet frugal, approach to his ties -- sky blue and gold, so far -- choosing to stick with the ones in his closet ... instead of going on a necktie shopping spree.

We're told Murray has plenty to choose from -- the trial could go several months -- and he has two key criteria: no black (major downer) and no small patterns (not good for tv cameras).

Knot for nothin' -- but, we gotta ask ...


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FAMED MJ LAWYER
Conrad Murray Is Guilty


Tom Mesereau -- the lawyer who successfully defended Michael Jackson in the singer's 2005 molestation trial -- claims Dr. Conrad Murray "violated every ethical obligation he had as a doctor" when he gave MJ Propofol ... and deserves to go to prison.

Mesereau wants to make it clear, "I am on the side of the prosecution."

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Mesereau : “I am outraged at what he did to Michael Jackson”

Mesereau : “I am outraged at what he did to Michael Jackson” (video)
Thomas Mesereau (the lawyer who successfully defended Michael Jackson in the 2005 trial) says Conrad Murray “violated every ethical obligation he had as a doctor” when he gave Michael Propofol. Mesereau: ”…when your patient is near death or perhaps has passed away and you’re talking to paramadics and police who are trying to save his life you don’t withhold the fact that you gave propofol. And than when you go to the hospital and people at the hospital are trying to revive and save his life – and sometimes people are revived- you don’t withhold the fact that you gave propofol. Okay?”

Mesereau wants to make it clear, “I am on the side of the prosecution. I am outraged at what he did to Michael Jackson. I don’t think any of this was necessary. I think he was greedy and selfish and foulish. He tried to cover his tracks and he got caught! ”

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Michael Jackson's Kids Will Testify If Things Get "Desperate"?
by GINA SERPE AND CLAUDIA ROSENBAUM


After something of a second day lull, testimony in the Michael Jackson manslaughter case was back to a dramatic high today as the late superstar's bodyguard took the stand.

But this may be just the tip of the iceberg if increasing reports are proved true, that proceedings may reach a theatrical, bombshell-laden peak should any of Jackson's three children be called to the stand.

And even though both the defense and prosecution have said from the start that the chances of calling any or all of the kids to the stand is slim, it's far from nonexistent.

MORE: Watch today's testimony live!


PlayMichael Jackson's Bodyguard Takes the Stand

Play911 Tape Used By Jackson Prosecution

PlayJudge Lays Down Law in Jackson Trial
"All the Jacksons were on the list to testify," one of Murray's defense lawyers, Michael Flanagan, told E! News. "But in the beginning we made a motion to exclude witnesses from the courtroom and the Jackson family members that stayed in the courtroom now can't testify."

So don't hold your breath for Katherine, Joe, La Toya, Jermaine, Randy and Janet Jackson to take the stand. But that does leave three Jacksons—namely, Paris, Prince and Blanket, who have already been mentioned in detail in bodyguard Alberto Alvarez's testimony—could at least theoretically be called upon.

Unlikely though it may be.


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Kai Chase talks juice at Michael Jackson’s home: Organic & delicious

The trial of Conrad Murray took a bit of a food look on Thursday. The witness on trial, Kai Chase, was a professional chef that shares some of Michael Jackson’s eating habits. In particular, Chase talked his juice habits. In addition to sharing the emphasis of eating healthy, the specialty chef went into detail of Michael Jackson’s favorite juice.

The MJ favorite juice, according to Kai Chase, is a delicious combination of ingredients. Chase said the ingredients included beets, celery, green apple and carrots. Blended and strained, the juice was then presented in a glass.

The natural juices of the an entertainer probably isn’t anything the jurors are interested in hearing, but the minute Kai Chase explained the ingredients, the social media streams lit up. Fans of the entertainer were conversing about the nutrients of the drink and if they could replicate the juice for their own consumption.

The Conrad Murray trial is only on the third day of testimony. It is expected to last until the end of October.


Conrad Murray Trial News:
Need more information on the Michael Jackson Doctor Trial?
Live hourly updates from the courtroom. From opening statements to presenting evidence, the courtroom drama is captured. Photos at the Los Angeles courthouse.

The Michael Jackson Death Trial Website. Inside the courtroom the details of formed Dr. Murray's involvement will be revealed. This site offers opinions and facts from every major news source.

CNN Headline News - daily Court Room Updates. Coming to Los Angeles, the HLN channel will be sharing their views live for Michael Jackson fans.

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Dr. Conrad Murray
Goes to Pot


Conrad Murray is still putting people to sleep -- only this time the "patients" are stoners who are buying the latest strain of marijuana -- named after the doc -- at California weed shops.

The strain is being sold under the name, "Conrad Murray OG." One weed shop owner boasted, "It puts you to sleep ... for a really long time."

As for whether Doc Murray will take legal action -- well, he's got bigger fish to fry.


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Michael Jackson fans vie for public seats at Conrad Murray trial
October 3, 2011

Hoping to get into the Conrad Murray trial, Mosako Shelton and five family members waited patiently at the top of the line outside the Los Angeles County courthouse early Monday morning.

"We got here way before 7 this morning just to come here," said Shelton, a Fullerton resident.

Watch live: Full coverage of Conrad Murray's trial

A security official standing on the other side of the yellow tape told them they had the best vantage point -- and would definitely get an up-close view of the Jackson family as they enter the courthouse.

The court allocates six public seats, with four additional spots as stand-by if there is room. Each morning a lottery is held at the Temple Street entrance to the courthouse.

"We all love Michael," said Shelton's sister, Itaska, pointing to their four kids — Joshua, Etelvina, Antoinette and Nesha — sleepy-eyed and shyly standing behind them.

"The kids are here because I needed them to come with me," Mosako said.
Mosako and Itaska, from Fullerton, followed the trial closely in the news last week but decided to come to downtown L.A. Monday for the second week.

"Is that all you got?" Itaska asked a younger man carrying a small "Justice for Michael Jackson" sign. She took the sign and playfully slapped him with it. She proudly showed him all three of the more colorful handmade posters in her hand.

The man, from Anaheim, introduced himself as Louie G and said he tried to get into the trial a few times last week. Standing behind the others in line, he said he was confident he would have better luck.

"Every day it's just something new," he said. "Last week it was the paramedics, I can't wait to see who's next. The cupcake baker? The pool guy?"

"It's been crazy meeting fellow Jackson supporters from all over, as well as Conrad Murray supporters," Louie said. And hearing the trial details from both sides, it makes you really think about how fair everything is."

Louie said he has never cried over the death of an artist before, "but Michael Jackson's death was just so shocking. Especially with all the hype about him coming back. I was so excited to see his show."

"You know what it is? It gave a younger generation hope to see him live," he said, motioning to the four kids at the front of the line, "Especially for me, at least."



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Before trial:

Surely corns are the least of your problems? Conrad Murray takes time out from explosive Michael Jackson trial to get a pedicure
By ELEANOR GOWER
Last updated at 11:12 PM on 3rd October 2011

He faces up to four years in prison and the loss of his medical licence if found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in relation to the death of Michael Jackson.
And Dr Conrad Murray clearly felt the need to take his mind off things this weekend by indulging in a pampering pedicure at a Los Angeles nail salon.
It was a somewhat unexpected sight to see the infamous doctor getting a foot and leg treatment in a break from his trial.


Relaxation: Dr Conrad Murray indulged in a relaxing pedicure in Los Angeles on Saturday, in a weekend break from his ongoing manslaughter trail relating to the 2009 death of Michael Jackson


However, Dr Murray's moment of relaxation on Saturday didn't last long.
He was back in court today to hear prosecutors further examine emergency room physician Richelle Cooper, who gave paramedics permission to pronounce Jackson dead in the bedroom of his home on June 25 2009.


Putting a sock on it: Murray looked pleased with his smoother feet as he pulled his socks on after the pampering pedi session

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Prosecutors have been largely laying out their case against Dr Murray in chronological fashion, with witnesses during the first week of trial recounting the singer's final performances, his interactions with fans on his last day and frantic efforts to revive the King of Pop.
They allege that Dr Murray, who has pleaded not guilty, gave Jackson a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives in the singer's bedroom in 2009.
Dr Murray's lawyers are presenting jurors with an alternate theory - that Jackson gave himself the lethal dose when the Houston-based cardiologist left the room.


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Occupy L.A. protesters move to Jackson trial

From wire service reports
Posted: 10/03/2011 06:40:20 AM PDT

Anti-Wall Street demonstrators camping at Los Angeles City Hall are trying to steal the spotlight from the manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor.
A group of chanting, sign-waving demonstrators has moved in front of the downtown courthouse where Dr. Conrad Murray is charged with Jackson's overdose death.
They appear to be seeking coverage from the huge crowd of TV cameras set up there.
The protesters, who blame the economic meltdown on greedy corporations, set up tents over the weekend on sidewalks by City Hall. No arrests have been made, and police say the demonstrators can stay unless they cause problems.
Organizers say they're planning an evening march through downtown LA in sympathy with about 700 Wall Street protesters who were arrested in New York over the weekend.

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Trial of Conrad Murray Enters Second Week

(AP) - The manslaughter trial against Michael Jackson’s doctor begins its second week Monday with prosecutors furthering their examination of an emergency room physician who gave paramedics permission to pronounce the pop superstar dead in the bedroom of his home.

Prosecutors have been laying out their case against Dr. Conrad Murray largely in chronological fashion, with witnesses during the first week of trial recounting the singer’s final performances, his interactions with fans on his last day and frantic efforts to revive the King of Pop.
Authorities contend Murray gave Jackson a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives in the singer’s bedroom in 2009.
Murray’s attorneys are presenting jurors with an alternate theory — that Jackson gave himself the lethal dose when Murray left the room.
The Houston-based cardiologist has pleaded not guilty. Murray, 58, faces four years behind bars and the loss of his medical license if convicted.
Prosecutors will continue to question emergency room doctor Richelle Cooper, who authorized the decision to pronounce Jackson dead in his rented mansion. Murray wanted resuscitation efforts to continue at the hospital. Cooper and another doctor are expected to testify about their interactions with the cardiologist.
Cooper is the 12th witness prosecutors have called so far in the trial, which is expected to last five weeks.
Jackson loomed large throughout opening statements and testimony last week, with Deputy District Attorney showing jurors a photo of a lifeless Jackson on a gurney and playing clips of his final performances from the film “This Is It.”
Jurors also heard during opening statements a never-before-heard recording of Jackson, rambling and slurring his words, which Walgren said was extracted from Murray’s cell phone.
The physician’s phone records are a central part of the prosecution case. Prosecutors intend to show records of Murray’s phone calls and emails from the hours before Jackson’s death to show that the doctor had other things on his mind — getting his $150,000 a month deal to serve as Jackson’s personal physician approved, running his medical practices and fielding calls from mistresses.
During a preliminary hearing, prosecutors showed that Murray was engaged in three phone calls in the hour before he emerged from Jackson’s bedroom and frantically told a chef to seek help.
One of Murray’s former patients, Las Vegas salesman Robert Russell, detailed one of those calls for jurors last week. Russell praised Murray in testimony, crediting the doctor with saving his life, but said he had grown distant after going to work for Jackson. Russell said he called the physician’s office seeking answers about his care on June 25, 2009 — the day Jackson died. Murray returned the message at 11:49 a.m., roughly 15 minutes before telling Jackson’s chef to call security and asking to speak to Jackson’s eldest son, Prince.
At some point during the trial, prosecutors are expected to detail the other phone calls and emails Murray fielded that day, including one to his girlfriend that was apparently made in the back of the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
The exact order of witnesses is unclear. The judge overseeing the case imposed a gag order last week prohibiting either side or their spokespeople from talking about the case outside of court.

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Conrad Murray Trial: Defense Faces Uphill Battle in Week 2

By Fred Schruers at TheWrap
Sun Oct 2, 2011 4:29pm EDT
Week two of the Conrad Murray trial gets underway Monday morning, and the doctor has already taken quite a pummeling.

With prosecutors effectively laying out their case in week one, the defense faces an uphill battle.

Last week, lead defense attorney Ed Chernoff (below) revealed his team's strategy -- to show that it wasn't just the Propofol administered by Murray that killed Jackson, it was an additional dose that the singer took himself.

"That's a tough way to go," said former federal prosecutor Laurie Levenson, now director of the Center for Ethical Advocacy at Loyola Law School. "To say that Michael self-ingested additional drugs [and] killed himself? Most people think that isn’t very plausible. But we’ll have to wait and see how they present it.”

Also read: The Conrad Murray Trial: Who Will Testify Next?

Meanwhile, Levenson felt the prosecution revealed a very winnable case:

In week one, Jackson loyalists like Kenny Ortega and the singer’s intimate staff set the scene of a medically neglected superstar. And paramedics and an ER doctor illuminated those last sad, strange moments as Jackson lay moribund, while the seemingly hapless Murray busied himself gathering damning vials and dispensing false information.

Also read: Juror Questionnaire for Conrad Murray Trial Rife With Drug and Celebrity-Related Questions

Levenson found deputy district attorney David Walgren’s (below right) opening statement to the jury to exemplify that “he’s an extremely talented prosecutor.”

And certainly, week one of the trial was extremely action-packed.

We still have almost a full month of court sessions to watch (they're scheduled to end October 28). And as tragic as the circumstances are, and as important as our due process is, the entire affair carries the sordid smack of infotainment.

On Friday around midday, after a colleague of lead defense attorney Ed Chernoff appeared on NBC’s "Today" show, Judge Michael Pastor issued a gag order forbidding all the attorneys in the trial from discussing the case publicly.

Chernoff protested that his talkative colleague, Michael Alford, is a member of his law firm but not one of the principal members of his team.

Nonetheless, Pastor -- who a day earlier had warned attorneys to be cautious with their statements -- not only slapped on the gag order, he also ordered Alford to come into court to face possible contempt charges.

Also read: Conrad Murray Trial, Day 4: ER Doc Says Murray Didn't Mention Propofol

It was the capper to a week that already saw a good deal of dramatic revelations. Now, onto week No. 2.

“I think we’re going to soon get into the battle of experts,” Levenson said. “And we’ll hear about the dangers and the proper handling of Propofol from the prosecution’s side.”

The roster of witnesses slated to appear for the prosecution enforces this expectation -- set to appear are Los Angeles County Coroner’s senior criminalist Jaime Lintemoot, a pharmacist named Tim Lopez from whom Murray purchased several drugs, including Propofol, and Dr. Richard Ruffalo, an expert anesthesiologist and clinical pharmacologist.

Levenson says the table has been thoroughly set for that sort of presentation, given that the prosecutors “had the evidence about Murray having people collect the vials. What they have to get into now is Propofol and how it’s supposed to be handled -- and how [Murray’s procedures] fell far below the standard of care, how this was extreme neglect.”

And while she felt it’s too early to fully assess Murray defense attorney Ed Chernoff on the basis of an opening statement and some cross-examinations, Levenson sees in him certain virtues: “He’s very earnest, very committed to the case. I don’t think his opening statement was as smooth as the prosecutor’s -- he seemed to bounce back and forth.”

Also read: Conrad Murray Trial Streaming App Hits No. 1 on iTunes

In star-oriented Los Angeles, Chernoff’s creditable record and humble Texas roots may not carry the punch needed.

“He comes across as confident,” Levenson said. “But not as one of the big names people turn to -- he’s not a Johnny Cochran, a Mark Geragos, a Tom Mesereau. I don’t think he’s even in that league.”

Chernoff’s co-counsel Michel Flanagan attributes his taking on the case for no fee as a career move, as he told the Los Angeles Times: "He's going to win this case, and it's going to set up his career for the rest of his life."

Also siting beside Murray at the defense table is strategist Nareg Gourjian, who was co-counsel to Geragos on such high-profile cases as singer Chris Brown’s assault charges.

Some observers feel the folksy Chernoff, who at one stage promised a portrayal of Murray’s good works that would make the jurors “glad to be alive,” will be credible to a racially mixed group of seven men and five women that’s largely middle class.

If Chernoff hints at a pattern of drugging on Jackson’s part -- which will be difficult given Judge Pastor’s prohibition against testimony on that score -- he’ll need to consider the jury questionnaires that were leaked by TMZ last week. Several of the jurors revealed that they had personal experience in dealing with substance abuse issues.

To boost Murray, it seems, Chernoff will need to carefully dismantle the sympathy for Jackson.

“That’s a really dangerous way to go,” Levenson said, not that she sees the defense as having much choice. “If you look at the facts of this case, there’s not a lot of directions you can go with the defense. He’s building the story that Michael was so desperate to rebuild his career that he was willing to do desperate things.”

On the other hand, Levenson added, "The prosecution did a great job in its opening statements of laying out what their case is going to be. They started out with people close to Jackson to build a sympathetic picture of how tragic this was.

They were also showing that people close to Jackson were concerned about him -- and it didn’t appear that Murray, the person hired to do that, cared."

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Conrad Murray
The Prosecutors are Dishonest!


Conrad Murray spilled his guts to his barber over the weekend, complaining the prosecutor in his manslaughter trial is intentionally deceiving the jury.

Murray's barber, Maurice from M Barbering, tells TMZ ... Murray was griping that prosecutors have said the Doc delayed calling 911. Murray told the clipper ... he told bodyguard Alberto Alvarez to immediately call 911.

And on the subject of Alvarez ... Murray is pissed at the accusation he told the bodyguard to bring Michael Jackson's two oldest kids to Jackson's bedroom. Doc Murray says he actually told Alvarez to keep them away.

Murray was telling his barber he thinks the prosecutors are more interested in convicting him than being honest.

And if you're wondering, Murray's cut cost $25 ... and he left a 5 dollar tip.


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Prince Could Be Called As Rebuttal Witness In Murray Trial

Posted by MJNA Staff in Justice For Michael, Murray Trial, Prince Paris & Blanket | 0 comments
(RadarOnline) - Michael Jackson‘s oldest son, Prince, could be called as a rebuttal witness by the prosecution in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, a source close to the Jackson family reveals exclusively toRadarOnline.com.

Even though the prosecution hasn’t rested its case, there is a very real possibility that Prince will be called as a rebuttal witness by Deputy District Attorney David Walgren.
“Prince is willing, able, and very much wants to testify. The district attorney’s office is in contact with Katherine Jackson about Prince testifying,” a Jackson family insider tells us. “The district attorney’s position is right now — that Prince not be called in their case. It will be a strategic decision to put Prince on the stand.”
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, both Prince and Paris want to testify against Dr. Murray, even though their grandmother, Katherine is steadfastly against it.
“Prince and Paris are determined to take the stand, though. Ultimately, I don’t believe Katherine will deny them that chance, even though she doesn’t want them to and has told them so,” the source said. “The kids have said they don’t want their father’s legacy to be tarnished by the trial and they believe their evidence will help convict Dr. Murray.
“The district attorney will assess Dr. Murray’s defense, and there will be one factor in determining if Prince is called to stand,” the source says, but won’t reveal what would compel Walgren to put Prince on the stand.
“If Prince is put on the stand, it’s likely that Judge Pastor would not allow cameras to show his face. Children testify all the time in criminal cases. Prince was an eyewitness to the tragic moments of his dad’s life as it was ending,” the source reveals. “If he was an adult, there would be no hesitation in putting him on the stand. If Prince is asked to testify, he will be ready. Prince is extremely bright and well spoken, and loves his father tremendously.”
The trial is expected to last for approximately five weeks.


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Jackson fan at Conrad Murray trial: 'We want to know what happened'
October 7, 2011


Ron Pritchard makes his living impersonating Sammy Davis Jr., but his real idol is Michael Jackson.

For that reason, Pritchard has visited the Los Angeles County courthouse nearly every day of the Dr. Conrad Murray trial.

On Thursday, the eighth day of the trial, Pritchard, 45, arrived at 6 a.m. to show support for Jackson. He has spent some days in the courtroom and some outside.

Conrad Murray witnesses: Who's who

“It’s just that we want to know what happened,” Pritchard said of Jackson’s fans. “It ain’t going to bring Michael back. I’m very passionate about this. I loved everything about him.”

Pritchard, an actor and dancer who enjoys busting out Jackson's famous dance moves when he's not impersonating Davis, held up a banner Thursday outside the downtown L.A. courthouse that read: “Justice for Michael. We will always be with you.”

A photo on the banner showed Jackson in a white suit giving a peace sign.
When another Jackson fan arrived with a sign bearing Jackson’s photo, Pritchard smiled.

“That’s a beautiful portrait,” he said.

Pritchard never will forget the day Jackson died, he said.

He was watching television when he saw a news alert that Jackson might be dead. When he learned it was true, he could not believe it.

“It’s just like hearing a loved one died,” Pritchard said. “If you loved them, your natural reaction would be one of unbelief, one of sadness, and if you happen to believe it, you want to know how, when and why it happened.”

Learning how Jackson died “made it even more tragic,” Pritchard said.

Murray, Jackson’s personal physician, is charged with involuntary manslaughter.

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Occupy Wall Street LA Competes With Michael Jackson Doctor Trial


Hundreds of protesters at the U.S. west coast version of Occupy Wall Street camped out at Los Angeles City Hall are splitting major media’s attention because of the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor for involuntary manslaughter right around the corner.

While the gathering of college students, the unemployed, professional and semi-pro activists have shifted back and forth from the lawn of City Hall to the streets of downtown, their wrath against many social issues has rotated as well.

Last night’s local media reports included the fact that arrests were made at a Bank of America protest. However, organizers tried to distance themselves from any reports of confrontation with police by saying the group at the bank was not part of the Occupy movement. Meanwhile, most local news stations led their nightly TV broadcast with coverage of the Dr. Conrad Murray trial, in which hearings include prosecutor's trying to prove the doctor was a catalyst for Jackson's death.

In an effort to provide it’s own reporting, Occupy Wall Street Los Angeles is webcasting recorded and live video through Livestream and OccupyLosAngeles.org. Organizers state on their website that they are offering “information through independent journalists on the ground at nonviolent protests around the world.”

“The team is made of local supporters who were inspired by the movement NYC's Occupy Wall Street,” according to organizers. The group is broadcasting from “Occupy LA protests around Los Angeles that began on Sept 17, 2011 on U.S. Day Of Rage Los Angeles and resurfaced Friday, Sept. 23, 2011.”

On Friday, a ticker banner on the bottom of the screen stated, “There have been no arrests of members of Occupy Los Angeles. Those arrested yesterday were with another organization. CBS News has put out FALSE reports...trying to belittle our movement.”

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During the Internet broadcast, when a woman describing herself as a press agent for Occupy L.A. was asked by someone from her group whether she approached a local news van across the street to provide information on the protest, she said, "No, I figured they were covering the Michael Jackson case so I did not bother them."

In a declared victory of sorts, a Los Angeles county woman joined the protest on Thursday after declaring that OneWest Bank and Fannie Mae stopped processing an eviction notice from her home in foreclosure on Wednesday. A separate community and union activists group staged a protest at Pasadena City Hall in support of Rose Gudiel the day before.

A politics professor at Occidental College asked in a column he wrote and published Friday, “The question facing the activists is this: Is the Occupy Wall Street phenomenon a moment of protest or a movement for sustained change? Will Rose Gudiel become the Rosa Parks of a new economic justice movement?"

Through its streaming video, social media sites, and forum chats, OWSLA has been able to get the word out about various planned activities. Posted on the group’s online calendar is the announcement of a street protest on Friday afternoon.

The protesters plan to include a “die in” at the event, pointing to the 10th anniversary of the start of the Afghanistan war.

On the L.A. group’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, an Occupy administrator posted, “We've got another occupier!! J. Matthew from Twitter: ‘Today's Agenda: Sell car because I can no longer afford it. Buy new shoes for #protesting and #marching. Buy sleeping bag for @OccupyLA.’

President Obama responded to the nationwide movement when asked in a press conference on Thursday:

"I think it expresses the frustrations the American people feel, that we had the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, huge collateral damage all throughout the country ... and yet you're still seeing some of the same folks who acted irresponsibly trying to fight efforts to crack down on the abusive practices that got us into this in the first place.”

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Arnold Klein Says Murray Fallout Hurts

(Mercury News) - Dr. Arnold Klein hovers over a 50-year-old woman, a syringe filled with the promise of youth in hand and a look of concentration on his face. At this moment he appears a contented man.

“Put me next to a patient, give me a needle and I’m really happy,” he says. But all is not perfection for the dermatologist to the stars.
Klein and Conrad Murray were Michael Jackson’s key physicians during the pop star’s final weeks in June 2009. Murray is on trial for involuntary manslaughter in Jackson’s drug-related death, while Klein, who treated Jackson for more than 25 years and called him “my best friend,” was cleared of any wrongdoing by authorities.

Murray’s defense team, however, is making Klein a part of the trial, claiming he fostered the singer’s addiction to a medication, Demerol, and that it played a part in his death. No Demerol was found in Jackson’s body.
The allegations, denied by Klein’s attorney, reverberate painfully for the 66-year-old doctor whose patient list has boasted Elizabeth Taylor, Dolly Parton, Carrie Fisher and many more celebrities.

“I see stuff on the Internet and it hurts, because I don’t like to be called a bad doctor,” Klein said, referring to online news and chatter about the trial that enters its fourth week Monday.
“All I’m trying to do is be the best doctor I can,” added the intense Klein, whose words spill out hurriedly and who often ends sentences with the entreaties “You understand?” or “You have to understand that.”
Murray, who has pleaded innocent, is accused of failing to monitor Jackson as the singer received a fatal dose of propofol (Diprivan is the drug’s commercial name) combined with a variety of other drugs including diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan).

Jackson, on the brink of a comeback at age 50, had complained repeatedly of insomnia and his need for drugs to help him sleep as he got ready for a strenuous London concert schedule.
Despite Klein’s anxiety over damage to his reputation, he says the fallout has been minimal. Media that sometimes camp outside his office have kept away certain high-profile patients, including “royal families from around the world, political dignitaries, people who don’t want to deal with the paparazzi,” Klein said.

But Hollywood’s crowned heads, the actors and others who helped Klein build his practice and his fame, aren’t so faint-hearted. Whether patients or friends, they are speaking up for him.
Carrie Fisher is both. The actress (“Star Wars”) and writer (“Wishful Drinking,” “Postcards From the Edge”), replied with a firm “no” when asked if she was uneasy hearing Klein’s name invoked in the Murray case.
“Michael and Arnie had a really good relationship. … It was a shame there was any focus brought (in the trial), because that became what everyone knew about” Klein, she said.

David Geffen, the prominent music and film executive who has long worked with Klein in the fight against AIDS, weighed in with a letter addressed “Dear Arnie” and written to be shared.
“In light of all that is being said about you in the press I was compelled to add my truths. I have never known a doctor who tries to know and learn everything as completely as you do, a doctor who has always been there for me,” Geffen wrote.

Fisher contends that her own past prescription drug abuse, about which she has spoken and written, prove Klein’s ethics. He never supplied her and, to the contrary, encouraged her to kick her habit, she said.
“If anyone would know, it would have been me,” Fisher said with a rueful laugh. “He’s not one of the doctors you would hit up for (drugs).”
Garo Ghazarian, Klein’s lawyer, has called the defense claim that Klein contributed to Jackson’s death “preposterous” and denied that Jackson was addicted to the Demerol used for pain relief “during medical procedures.” (He did not detail them, and Klein declined to discuss issues directly related to the trial or whether it was affecting his private life.)

But lead defense attorney Ed Chernoff invoked Klein’s name seven times during his opening statement and has referred to the dermatologist repeatedly throughout the trial. The defense, which is expected to begin presenting its side next week, sought to call Klein as a witness but was blocked by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, who ruled Klein’s testimony was not relevant to the case.
Klein’s medical specialty is the use of injectable drugs such as Botox and Restylane to ease wrinkles and sagging skin. It is a skill he pioneered and one that has made him a favorite in Hollywood, where youth and beauty are the currency of the land.

Fisher credits Klein with smoothing her face and restoring her confidence after weight loss took a toll. “He cares about what he does and he loves making people look better,” she said. “It’s like he’s a painter, but the brush is the needle.”
He doesn’t limit his practice to the well-heeled or well-known. The middle-aged patient who was at the end of his needle recently was a woman who wanted, and got, a younger look for dating and business.

Klein has an international reputation, with patients from the Middle East and Europe trekking to California to see him. In a 2008 issue of Italian men’s Vogue, L’uomo Vogue, an article on design leaders featured a dapper, ascot-wearing Klein as an architect of the face, alongside more traditional architecture masters including Frank Gehry.
Often dressed in black, Klein is fond of such eye-catching jewelry as his Rolex watch decorated with diamond-and-ruby lips, a gift he received from Cher. He looks ready to be cast in a movie about a flamboyant doctor’s adventures among the stars.

Although he’s long balanced the roles of medical heavyweight and prominent physician-about-town, he’s now in difficult—but not unprecedented—territory. In 2004, he was sued by a Hollywood socialite who blamed Botox injections for disabling headaches. A jury found for him and the drug manufacturer.
Earlier this year, Klein sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and alleged in court papers that he lost at least $10 million to theft and fraud, blaming a former employee and others. A countersuit from the ex-employee denied the allegations and claimed, among other issues, that he had endured difficult working conditions.

Klein minimized the impact of the stated financial losses, saying the bankruptcy filing was based on “bad advice” and that he expects resolution soon. It appears to be the Murray trial, above all, that aggrieves him.
During the 2009 investigation into Jackson’s death, federal drug agents checked into who was prescribing medications to the singer and examined the entertainer’s interactions with at least seven doctors, including Klein. Federal drug agents raided a pharmacy in the Beverly Hills building where Klein previously practiced before clearing him in Jackson’s death.

Klein clearly is in far different circumstances than Murray, who could end up behind bars and lose his medical license if convicted.
By contrast, Klein just moved into new offices around the corner from Rodeo Drove and above a posh restaurant, Villa Blanca, which is a haunt for “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” circle.

His professional credentials remain intact. He is a professor of medicine and dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles, which is home to the Arnold Klein chair in dermatology endowed by supporters in 2004. And he’s a charity stalwart. Klein teamed with other physicians, Taylor and Geffen to form the respected American Foundation for AIDS Research, AmFAR, and he has supported other fundraising efforts targeting breast cancer and eye disease.

Dazzling mementoes and gifts are scattered around his hilltop Beverly Hills home, set in an exclusive neighborhood protected by gates and guards. There’s a photo of Klein with Taylor and Jackson; Jackson-signed lithographs of five of the singer’s album covers; and sculptures given to Klein by the King of Pop and his children.
A copy of the book “Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair With Jewelry” is inscribed with a mash note from the late actress: “My beloved Arnie, I love you more than I can tell. I feel you have saved my fading life. I love and thank you forever. Yours, Elizabeth.”

The connection between Klein and Jackson went especially deep. Their friendship developed when Klein treated the singer for ailments including vitiligo—a patchy loss of skin pigmentation, which Klein said forced Jackson to lighten his complexion overall—and facial gauntness caused by weight loss, which can be filled out with Restalyne and other so-called injectables.

Debbie Rowe, who worked as Klein’s nurse, married Jackson and bore two of his three offspring, Prince and Paris, before the couple divorced. Media reports alleging Klein to be the children’s father through a sperm donation have been dismissed by the doctor, although sometimes coyly.
Jackson lived in one of Klein’s homes for a time, and the pair partied with the likes of Taylor. Jackson’s last Christmas, in 2008, was spent with his children, Klein, Fisher and a few others, Klein recalls.

The doctor is writing a book about the King of Pop. What Klein says he came to know about him: Jackson wasn’t a drug addict but indulged in wine (he called it “Jesus juice”); was a prude and an innocent who wanted to live his childhood forever; and “wasn’t adult enough to be sexual,” contrary to the child molestation allegations Jackson faced.

Klein said he’s been hurt both by the defense’s portrayal of Jackson as a frail addict who contributed to his own death and by the allegation that Klein himself shares blame.
“Once you’re famous or popular at any level, they’ll attack you,” he said.
It’s unsurprising that Klein finds himself caught on the jagged edge of celebrity, a risk with prominent patients, observers said.

“You become part of that celebrity’s tragedy or gossip. Their dirty laundry is aired and you’re part of it, directly or indirectly,” said Dr. Rahul K. Parikh, a San Francisco-area physician and writer who, in a 2009 Salon.com piece, criticized Klein for publicly discussing the late Jackson’s medical history with then-CNN host Larry King. .
Mixing fame and medicine also is counterproductive, contends Dr. Mark Goulston, a psychiatrist and author (“Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone”).

“The seduction of fame to a doctor can be tough to resist,” said Goulston. “I also think it distracts the doctor from what he should be doing, which is to focus totally on the well-being of the patient.”
But Klein said his patients and the quest for perfection, nothing else, are his obsession.

“I do this because of my level of doing it, you understand? The monetary thing is nice but it’s really secondary to what I do,” he said.
Could he have done something to save Jackson, his friend and patient?
“I don’t know. How do you save a person?” Klein mused. “This tragedy is an example of how the rich and famous can get terrible medical care. It repeats itself and repeats itself. When people get famous, they get all the ‘yes people’ around them.”


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Outraged' PETA files complaint against Dr Murray over Propofol study

Washington, Oct 19 (ANI): PETA has called for federal investigation against physician Conrad Murray, who tested the drug Propofol on Beagle dogs to help him with his case in the Michael Jackson death trial.
PETA has claimed that the test would have caused "enormous suffering in the animals", Radar Online reported.
The shocking revelation that Dr. Conrad Murray's defense team tested the drug Propofol on Beagle dogs had outraged PETA so much so, that they were impelled to take this action against him.
"I cannot imagine any use for this information at all," Radar Online quoted PETA's Vice President of Laboratory Kathy Guillermo as saying.
"These tests cause enormous suffering in animals," he added.
PETA had filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Monday. (ANI)

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DR. CONRAD MURRAY
"I'm Praying for the Prosecutor"


Dr. Conrad Murray made a pretty shocking statement last night, leaving a restaurant in Santa Monica. He said, "I would like to pray for the prosecutor, his associates, and his expert witness."

Sadly, the photog didn't ask why Murray was praying for them ... whether it's because he prays for everyone, be they friend or foe -- or whether he's praying because he believes they are portraying him unfairly/unethically before the jury.


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Janet Jackson Reschedules Australian Tour Dates Due to Trial of Michael's Doctor

October 24, 2011 02:37:01 GMT

'After talking with my family last night, I decided we must be together right now,' explains the 'Together Again' singer about her decision to reduce her Melbourne dates from three days to one.


Janet Jackson is putting her family before her work. The "Rhythm Nation" singer has rescheduled part of her Australian tour because she wants to give support to her family during the trial of Conrad Murray, the doctor accused of involuntary manslaughter in her brother Michael Jackson's death.

In a statement released on Sunday, October 23, the 45-year-old singer told The Associated Press, "When I planned these shows, the schedule in California was completely different." She went on to say, "After talking with my family last night, I decided we must be together right now. ... This saddens me in so many ways."

Janet, who also thanked fans for their support and understanding, was actually set to perform in Melbourne on Wednesday, October 26; Thursday, October 27; and Saturday, October 29 as part of her "Number Ones" tour. Her make-up schedule, however, will see her perform for one night only, on November 3, in Rod Laver Arena.

Despite the sudden rescheduling, Janet has the support of her promoter. "It is important that Janet is with her family at this critical point in the hearing," promoter Paul Dainty said. "While Janet and our company apologize for any inconvenience for the reschedule of the Melbourne shows, we thank Janet for the great and successful concerts in Perth and Adelaide and eagerly await her return."

Conrad Murray is on trial in Los Angeles. The doctor is accused of being negligent in his care of the late King of Pop, who died of a propofol overdose in 2009. His trial was kicked off on September 27, and last Friday, October 21, his defense team challenged the motives and methods of the prosecution's anesthesiology expert.


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Katherine Jackson May Not Be In LA For Dr. Conrad Murray Verdict


By Jen Heger - Radar Legal Editor

Katherine Jackson probably won't be in Los Angeles when a verdict is announced in the Dr. Conrad Murray case, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.

Michael Jackson's powerhouse attorney, Tom Mesereau told us during Radar Live on Wednesday, that he was going to be with the Jackson family matriarch in London next week for the premiere of a documentary about the King of Pop's life.

"I will be with Katherine in London next week with my law firm partner Susan Yu, Katherine, Tito, Rebbie, we are going to be in London for the premiere of David Gest's brilliant and wonderful documentary about the life of Michael Jackson. It's called Michael Jackson: The Life of An Icon and we will all be there for that premiere, so we will probably be in London when there is a verdict," Mesereau said.

PHOTOS: Key Players In The Trial Of Dr. Conrad Murray

"I went to a private premiere of his film, a private screening, of his film a few months ago in Los Angeles at Universal Studios and it's one of the most brilliant, kindest, most sensitive documentaries about Michael Jackson ever and when I went to see it I was wondering if it was going to be new material or had I seen everything, and I was so moved by this wonderful documentary. It goes through Michael's ups and downs...I'm glad Katherine will be there for the premiere because it's a very positive piece about a brilliant, wonderful, kindhearted human being that all of us loved," Tom asserts.

Watch The Trailer of Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon

Mesereau successfully represented Michael Jackson during his 2005 molestation trial in Santa Maria, California. The documentary will cover the ups and downs of the singer’s complex life, and include interviews with Katherine Jackson, Tito and Rebbie.

PHOTOS: The Jackson Family Arrives To Dr. Conrad Murray’s Trial

Dr. Conrad Murray's defense is expected to wrap up it's case by Friday, and final arguments could be heard on Monday.

As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Murray broke down in tears as his best friend and patient testified on his behalf on Wednesday morning.

If convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson, Dr. Murray could face up to four years in state prison.

PHOTOS: Michael Jackson Through The Years


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Conrad Murray Trial: Addiction Specialist Testifies He Believes MJ Was Most Likely a Demerol Addict (Live Feed) -- Update 2


The court is on lunch break, which comes as addiction expert Dr. Waldman finishes a very contentious morning of testimony.

Waldman spent much of the morning sparring with prosecutor David Walgren after Waldman testified that the amounts of Demerol Michael Jackson had been given by dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein -- "stiff doses," as he repeatedly called them -- would lead to a dependency on the drug in most people.

Waldman repeatedly refused to answer Walgren's cross-examination questions and ask that they be rephrased, with Judge Michael Pastor having to weigh in several times on objections from both sides.

Waldman's testimony is part of the defense team's attempt to present to jurors an alternative to laying the blame for Jackson's death on Conrad Murray.

Previously …

Update 10:35 a.m.

The court goes to mid-morning break after testimony by addiction specialist Dr. Robert Waldman, who testified about the high doses of Demerol Michael Jackson had been given by Beverly Hills dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein in the months before MJ's death.

Waldman said that after reviewing Klein's records and considering the high doses of Demerol he administered to Jackson, Waldman believes anyone would become dependent on the drug in those amounts.

But during a tense cross-examination by prosecutor David Walgren that will continue when court resumes, Waldman admitted that he would not definitively label Jackson as dependent on Demerol based solely on Klein's records.

Anesthesiologist Dr. Paul White is among the defense team's final two witnesses as day 19 of proceedings in the Conrad Murray involuntary manslaughter trial begins today.

White, who is scheduled for a contempt of court hearing for calling another witness a "scumbag," is expected to contradict the testimony of that witness, Dr. Steven Shafer.

Read more: Conrad Murray Cries as Patients Cite Free Care, Call Him 'Best Friend' (Live Feed) -- Update

The Los Angeles County coroner ruled Michael Jackson died of "acute propofol intoxication," and that sedatives were also a factor. Prosecutors contend Murray is criminally liable for Jackson's June 25, 2009 death because he recklessly administered the propofol, a potent surgical anesthetic drug, and was negligent in properly monitoring Jackson.

Shafer's testimony supported that finding. The defense attorneys assert Jackson administered the fatal dose of drugs to himself.

Read more: Michael Jackson, Conrad Murray and the Stripper

On Wednesday, the court session was cut short because of scheduling conflicts, and after five former Murray patients testified that he was a good doctor who had saved their lives and in some cases provided free medical care.

CNN reports the trial is expected to go to the jury for deliberations at the beginning of next week. Murray faces up to four years in prison and loss of his medical license if convicted, though a new California law could mean his sentence would be reduced to two years and be served in a county jail.


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Conrad Murray trial: Caving in to a patient's demands?


A defense expert at the trial of Michael Jackson's personal physician acknowledged Thursday that he himself would never cave in to a patient's demand for an unsafe medical treatment, the allegation prosecutors have made against the doctor.

Dr. Robert Waldman, a specialist in addiction medicine, testified under questioning by a defense attorney that the singer was "probably" addicted to the Demerol provided by his longtime dermatologist.

But on cross-examination, a prosecutor switched the focus to the medical treatment provided by Dr. Conrad Murray, the defendant who had hired Waldman as an expert witness.

FULL COVERAGE: The Conrad Murray trial

"If a patient asks you to administer a dangerous drug, a drug that could be harmful ... would you refuse to administer that drug to the patient?" Deputy Dist. Atty. David Walgren asked.

"Absolutely," Waldman replied.

Murray's defense called the expert to bolster its theory that painkiller withdrawal caused the singer's chronic insomnia. Jackson, the defense has suggested, was so concerned about getting sleep before crucial rehearsals that he injected himself with a lethal amount of a surgical anesthetic when Murray was out of the room. Prosecutors maintain Jackson stopped breathing after Murray set up an intravenous drip of propofol, a powerful drug intended for use only in hospitals and surgical suites, and then failed to monitor his vital signs.
Walgren noted that Jackson often went long stretches between visits to dermatologist Arnold Klein -- including a full week shortly before his death. If Demerol addicts could suffer withdrawal after just eight hours, how had Jackson gone many days, the prosecutor asked.

Addicts "often have multiple sources. If they can't get their main med, they will look elsewhere to get it," Waldman said, adding that Klein's records were "inadequate."

The prosecutor seized on the answer. Have you reviewed the defendant's records for Jackson, he asked the expert. As the jury has heard repeatedly, Murray kept no records in the months before Jackson died.

The judge directed the witness not to answer. "Assumes facts not in evidence," Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor said.

Under further questioning by a lawyer for Murray, Waldman hinted at the frustration the defense claims the doctor encountered when he tried to get Jackson to seek help. Waldman said the best course of treatment for an addict is an inpatient treatment center, but if the person refuses "we don't really have much choice. Hands are tied."

Murray, 58, faces a maximum of four years in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The defense's main scientific expert, Dr. Paul White, is to take the stand Thursday afternoon. Jurors are expected to begin deliberations next week.

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