Dr. Conrad Murray trial: Michael Jackson’s personal assistant enters the scene.
Michael Jackson’s personal assistant has described today, during the second day of Dr. Conrad Murray’s trial, the chaotic moments as the megastar was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Michael Amir Williams told the court how Dr. Conrad Murray panicked and asked to be taken back from hospital to Michael Jackson‘s house “to get rid of a cream that the world should never see” as the King of Pop lay dead.
Michael Amir Williams said also that he asked security to place Michael Jackson‘s house on “lockdown” after Dr. Murray repeatedly asked to go back from the hospital to the singer’s mansion.
Michael Jackson’s personal assistant said that he lied to Dr. Murray and told him the keys to his car had been taken by the police as Murray insisted that he be taken back to the house.
Dr. Conrad Murray then asked to be taken “to get food”, but Michael Amir Williams said he again refused.
The court was also played the panicked voicemail that Dr. Conrad Murray left on Michael Amir Williams’ phone before he called 911.
“Call me right away, please. Please call me right away. Thank you.”
Dr. Conrad Murray looked uncomfortable and started touching his neck as he waited for the recording to be played.
Dr Conrad Murray on the second day of Michael Jackson’s death trial in Los Angeles
Michael Amir Williams said that he had received the voicemail at 12:13pm on the day that Michael Jackson died, 11 minutes before the emergency call was placed.
When Williams called Dr. Conrad Murray back two minutes later he was told that Michael Jackson had a “bad reaction” and to “get somebody here immediately”.
Michael Amir Williams said that he was not asked to call 911.
When Williams arrived at Michael Jackson’s Los Angeles mansion, he said he saw the King of Pop’s body being brought down the stairs on a gurney.
Michael Amir Williams, Michael Jackson's personal assistant, told the court that Dr Conrad Murray asked to be taken back from hospital to the singer's house
The personal assistant told the court that Dr. Conrad Murray seemed “frantic”.
Then he told how he drove behind the ambulance to the hospital with Michael Jackson’s three children, Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket, and their nanny.
The evening before Michael Jackson was taken to hospital, the personal assistant said he had gone to the singer’s final rehearsal at the Staples Center.
Michael Amir Williams said that he had been “blown away” by the performance and that Michael Jackson was in “high spirits” as he returned home for what would be the final time.
The court was told how Michael Jackson asked to stop the car at the end of his driveway so he could wind down the window and speak to fans.
“He was in good spirits,” Michael Jackson’s personal assistant said.
“Sometimes he was not feeling well and wanted to drive in and just wave, but he wanted to stop the car.”
The jury was shown a photo inside the front door of Michael Jackson's home in Los Angeles
The revelations came as the court today also heard from the concert organizer about how Michael Jackson gave a “good rehearsal” in his final time on stage hours before his death.
Paul Gongaware, an executive for AEG Live, which was promoting Michael Jackson’s planned series of comeback concerts in 2009, resumed his testimony at the courthouse in Los Angeles after the jury was played a recording of the singer’s last performance on stage.
The promoter watched the King of Pop performing at his final two rehearsals and said Michael Jackson appeared engaged and energetic.
The jury was played four minutes of Michael Jackson’s final rehearsals of two songs yesterday.
Paul Gongaware said this morning that Dr. Conrad Murray had asked for $5 million to provide his services to Michael Jackson during the concerts.
But he said they had agreed on a sum of $150,000 a month after Michael Jackson insisted that he wanted Dr. Murray.
The concert promoter said that it was Michael Jackson who had wanted to increase the number of concerts he was due to perform at the O2 in London.
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Paul Gongaware said that after the first 10 shows sold out almost instantaneously, Michael Jackson wanted to add another 21 dates. The megastar was obsessed with breaking Prince’s record of 21 shows at the arena.
Paul Gongaware, CEO of AEG Live, told the court that Michael Jackson was “engaged” and “energetic” in the two performances before his death
Another AEG employee, attorney Kathy Jorrie, testified this morning about drafting a contract for Dr. Conrad Murray to work as Michael Jackson’s personal physician.
Katie Jorrie told the court that Dr. Murray requested a CPR machine in the contract. When she asked the doctor why it was needed, he said because of Michael Jackson’s age and the strenuous nature of the concert series that he did not want to take chances.
At one point in negotiations, Dr. Conrad Murray requested his contract be modified to allow him to hire another physician in case he was tired or unavailable while Michael Jackson was performing in London, she testified.
“He wanted to make sure that there was somebody else available to be of assistance,” she said.
She said also that on the day before Michael Jackson’s death that Dr. Conrad Murray told her that the singer was in “perfect health”.
Michael Jackson’s bodyguard is today also expected to reveal what happened in the immediate moments after the singer died.
After a dramatic first day of the hearing into charges against Michael Jackson’s personal doctor Conrad Murray, the prosecution is continuing to present their case claiming that the superstar died after he was “abandoned” by the doctor.
Prosecutors allege Dr. Conrad Murray caused Michael Jackson’s death by providing him with a lethal dose of the anaesthetic propofol and other sedatives without the proper lifesaving equipment or skills.
Faheem Muhammed, who was Michael Jackson’s head of security, will take the stand today.
He was summoned to the Michael Jackson’s bedroom by Dr. Murray after the megastar was found unconscious.
The second day of Dr. Conrad Murray’s trial is likely concentrate on the day that Michael Jackson died, with witnesses expected to reveal what happened in the immediate moments before and after the singer died.
The prosecution is likely to ask Faheem Muhammed to tell the jury about Dr. Murray’s actions after he discovered that Michael Jackson had died.
A photo of Michael Jackson in white medical robes with his mouth covered with a tube and tap was shown in a shocking beginning to the trial yesterday.
Yesterday, in the first day of trial, the jury was played four minutes of Michael Jackson’s final rehearsals of two songs.
Days before Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song” performance during a rehearsal at Staples Center, the megastar’s health prompted friend and collaborator Kenny Ortega to question whether the singer needed serious help. He had just spent hours cradling Michael Jackson, trying to warm him from deep shivers that kept him from rehearsing.
“He was like a lost boy,” Kenny Ortega wrote in an email to promoters five days before Michael Jackson’s death.
“There may still be a chance he can rise to the occasion if we get him the help he needs.”
The email drew a rebuke from Dr. Conrad Murray, who Kenny Ortega said told him not to try to play amateur doctor or psychologist. Five days later, Michael Jackson was dead.
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