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Dr. Conrad Murray will no longer be taking the stand to testify in his own defense in the involuntary manslaughter trial stemming from Michael Jackson’s 2009 death.

This marks a reversal of his original plan to testify.

Murray told his lawyers from day one that he wants to testify and tell his side of the story, but his lead attorney, Ed Chernoff, believes it’s not worth the risk.

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His reasoning is simple: Murray wouldn’t be able to withstand a tough cross examination that the DA would subject him to, and would hurt his own cause.

“Clients always want to testify, but in this case, the D.A. would wear him down, and Murray just wouldn’t be able to overcome the basic facts,” says a source.

To name a few: “not calling 911 right away, failure to tell ER doctors and EMTs that he gave Jackson Propofol, not having the proper monitoring equipment.”

 
The defense’s final witness, Dr. Paul White, testified Friday that Michael Jackson killed himself with a lethal injection by mistake with Murray out of the room.

That long shot theory is probably Murray’s only hope of a not guilty verdict, but Deputy D.A. David Walgren still has a chance to cross examine him today.

Moreover, after the defense formally rests their case, prosecutors – who have made a very strong case thus far – can call additional rebuttal witnesses.

The trial resumes this morning in Los Angeles.