Conrad Murray's trial/ Day 01-11-2011

An expert called to the stand in the defense of Dr. Conrad Murray yesterday suggested that Michael Jackson could have risen from his bed, picked up a syringe left by the physician and injected himself with a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol. Unfortunately for Murray's defense, Dr. Paul White's testimony was ridiculed by the prosecution in an aggressive cross-examination that resulted in Dr. White acknowledging that he would have never agreed to give the drug to a patient suffering from insomnia, as Murray did. This use of propofol was "a complete off-label use of the drug," White told the jury.

As Murray's trial for involuntary manslaughter in the death of Jackson winds down, there is some question as to whether the doctor will testify in his own defense. "I will still need more time to talk to my counsel about it," Murray told Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor when asked if he understood his options to either testify or remain silent. Murray said that he will make a final decision sometime today.


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Conrad Murray must decide whether to testify

Michael Jackson's doctor has yet to decide whether he will testify at his involuntary-manslaughter trial.

But if Dr. Conrad Murray does testify, he might say that the pop star killed himself with a syringe of leftover drugs while Murray was on the phone in a bedroom foyer, according to trial testimony Monday.

The scenario emerged during the cross-examination of a defense medical expert who said his testimony was informed by "two extended conversations" with Murray.

The witness, Dr. Paul White, an expert in the surgical anesthetic that killed Jackson, was warned repeatedly not to disclose any information from the meetings, initially by a prosecutor and then by an exasperated judge who threatened contempt of court charges.

LIVE VIDEO: Trial of Conrad Murray

But White's answers — many later stricken from the official transcript — and his theory on Jackson's death suggested what Murray told him: The doctor filled a syringe with 50 milligrams of the anesthetic propofol and additional lidocaine, injected half the mixture into Jackson's veins and set the syringe aside.

Even as his attorneys announced they would likely wrap up their case Tuesday, Murray told Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor he had yet to make a final decision on whether he would testify, saying that "depends on how the case progresses."

Murray has pleaded not guilty and faces four years in prison and the loss of his medical licenses if convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death.

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Trial of Dr. Conrad Murray may be entering its final day

Michael Jackson's doctor has yet to decide whether he will testify at his involuntary-manslaughter trial.

But if Dr. Conrad Murray does testify, he might say that the pop star killed himself with a syringe of leftover drugs while Murray was on the phone in a bedroom foyer, according to trial testimony Monday.

The scenario emerged during the cross-examination of a defense medical expert who said his testimony was informed by "two extended conversations" with Murray.

The witness, Dr. Paul White, an expert in the surgical anesthetic that killed Jackson, was warned repeatedly not to disclose any information from the meetings, initially by a prosecutor and then by an exasperated judge who threatened contempt of court charges.

LIVE VIDEO: Trial of Conrad Murray

But White's answers — many later stricken from the official transcript — and his theory on Jackson's death suggested what Murray told him: The doctor filled a syringe with 50 milligrams of the anesthetic propofol and additional lidocaine, injected half the mixture into Jackson's veins and set the syringe aside.

Even as his attorneys announced they would likely wrap up their case Tuesday, Murray told Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor he had yet to make a final decision on whether he would testify, saying that "depends on how the case progresses."

Murray has pleaded not guilty and faces four years in prison and the loss of his medical licenses if convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death.


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DR. CONRAD MURRAY
Will NOT Testify

Toldja so! Dr. Conrad Murray will not take the stand ... the defense just confirmed.

As we previously reported, there was a split between Murray's lawyers Ed Chernoff and J. Michael Flanagan over whether Murray should testify.

Chernoff believed Murray would have gotten crushed in cross-examination -- but Flanagan didn't think Murray could win over the jury without giving his side of the story.

After the dust settled, Chernoff prevailed. So Murray will keep his mouth shut.

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Dr. Conrad Murray declines to testify in Michael Jackson death trial


Michael Jackson’s doctor will not testify at his trial for involuntary manslaughter, he said in court Tuesday.

“My decision is that I will not testify in this matter,” Dr. Conrad Murray said.

Had he chosen to take the stand in the downtown Los Angeles courthouse, Murray likely would have faced blistering cross-examination by prosecutors.

LIVE VIDEO: Trial of Conrad Murray

Witnesses have testified that he lied numerous times and made egregious medical missteps in the care of the music superstar.

After informing Murray of his dual constitutional rights to testify and to remain silent, Judge Michael Pastor asked the doctor Tuesday, “What is your decision?”

Murray paused, looked to his lead defense attorney Ed Chernoff and then to his left at two other lawyers and said, “My decision is to not testify -- .”

His response was interrupted by a prosecutor who objected to a “narrative answer.” The judge asked Murray again and he replied, “My decision is that I will not testify in this matter.”

The judge asked Murray if his decision was his alone.

“You are making this decision based on your own free will?” Pastor asked.

“Yes,” Murray said.

Chernoff added that he had conferred with his client about the decision “many times” and that the doctor understood his rights “very well.”

Murray has pleaded not guilty and faces four years in prison and the loss of his medical licenses if convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death.

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