Dr. Conrad Murray's lawyers question why LAPD surveillance expert only submitted a portion of tape into evidence.By Kara Warner
Orlando Martinez
Photo: Pool/ Getty Images
Day 16 in the involuntary manslaughter trial against Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray marked the end of the prosecution's case and the first day the defense had an opportunity to call witnesses to the stand.
Testimony kicked off with a cross-examination of propofol expert Steven Shafer, during which Murray's attorney Ed Chernoff challenged Shafer's theory that there is no way Jackson could have killed himself with self-administered doses of Lorazepam and propofol. Chernoff and his team then moved through several witnesses Monday (October 24).
The Witnesses
» Dr. Steven Shafer - propofol expert» Alex Supall - LAPD surveillance specialist» Donna Norris - Beverly Hills Police Department communications director
» Dan Myers - LAPD detective» Orlando Martinez - LAPD detective» Cherilyn Lee - nurse practitioner
Key Testimony
» Shafer reiterated his testimony from Thursday in that he does not believe it is possible Jackson killed himself and that it is difficult to determine the specific effect propofol had on Jackson because of the amount of the drug that had been previously administered to the singer in the two months before his death.
» Donna Norris took the stand briefly to discuss details of the 911 call Murray placed the day of Jackson's death: the time the call came in, the location from which the call was placed and from what number the call was received.
» Alex Supall, who visited Jackson's home the evening after his death, discussed the details of the security and surveillance systems set up at Jackson's residence. Supall was pressed by the defense for the reasons why he only submitted a few minutes of footage to the investigation (the last time Jackson entered his home) versus the entire day. Supall told the court he copied Jackson's arrival in order to establish a timeline for his return home.
» LAPD detectives Myers and Martinez were brought to the stand to question the testimony of Jackson's bodyguard, Alberto Alvarez. Myers told the court that contrary to what Alvarez claimed Murray told him to do, the bodyguard did not tell the detectives about putting propofol bottles or a saline bag away before the EMTs' arrived. Martinez agreed with Myers that Alvarez never mentioned being instructed to hide the materials, which led Murray's defense team to insinuate that Alvarez might have been influenced by reading a press release from the county coroner a few days after his initial interview with the police.
» Lee took the stand to provide the court with details about her treatment and care of Jackson, including a description of what fluids she administered Jackson through his IV.
Murray has pleaded not guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter. He faces four years in prison and the loss of his medical license.
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