Dr. Conrad Murray is in L.A. Superior Court on the first day of testimony in the death of Michael Jackson. The judge will determine whether there is enough evidence to order a jury trial.
In opening statements, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren alleged that Murray withheld from paramedics and from doctors at UCLA Medical Center that he had administered Propofal and “showed an extreme deviation from the standard of care.”
If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, Murray, 57, could lose his medical license and go to prison for up to four years. The Jackson family has also filed a wrongful death lawsuit that will play out in a civil trial.
Members of the Jackson family, including Katherine Jackson and siblings La Toya and Jackie, were on hand to hear witness testimony.
The prosecution is expected to call 30 witnesses during the two week hearing. Lawyers will question LAPD detectives, medical experts as well as people who were closely involved with MJ on his This is it tour production. Kenny Ortega, producer of This Is It, was one of the first to take the stand to provide testimony.
We’ll be following this story closely in the coming weeks. Check out news coverage of the hearing below: