Stacey Ruggles
The first testimony of the day was from Stacey Ruggles, an employee of Conrad Murray since 1997. Ruggles stated she spoke to Murray on the 25th June 2009. That was all the prosecution asked.
The defence asked about when Ruggles helped Murray open a medical office in Texas. The medical office was for people who couldn't afford a physician. Ruggles stated Murray didn't really make money out of this office. So far all testimonies by people who have worked with or been treated by Murray have been positive. A previous patient of Murray stated his treatment was first class, up until the time Murray went to work for Jackson, (at what point the patient claimed Murray 'abandoned' him).
Ruggles also testified that she was told in April 2009 that Murray would be working with Michael Jackson.
Ruggle's testimony only took 7 minutes.
Murray’s girlfriends testify
Next to testify were four of Murray's girlfriends.
Bridget Morgan, one of Murray's girlfriends, phoned Murray on June 25th 2009 but he did not pick up.
Michelle Bella, who met Murray in a Las Vegas nightclub, was texting with Murray on 25th June. She also confirmed Murray had told her a few weeks earlier that he would be working with Michael Jackson.
Nicole Alvarez
Nicole Alvarez, Murray's long term girlfriend and the mother of one of Murray's children, confirmed she had packages of Propofol delivered to her Santa Monica home. Alvarez stated that she did not know what was contained in the packages.
Alvarez was also asked about knowing about Murray's salary. Alvarez stated she knew the amount of $150,000 a month. Alvarez had earlier testified she didn't know about Murray’s salary. When Brazil (prosecution lawyer) grilled her over her changing statement Alvarez became flustered and said she was unsure.
Alvarez also said she met Jackson on a few occasions and introduced her and Murray's child to Jackson.
Alvarez testified that she was on the phone to Murray when he was in the ambulance with Jackson. Murray called her to tell her to not worry, everything was fine but she would probably hear about the story on the news. Murray then went on to call her four more times throughout the afternoon.
Apparently the LAPD have stated they believe Alvarez knows a lot more about what happened on that day than what she has stated to protect her child's father.
Sade Anding
Sade Anding, a girlfriend of Murray, was on the phone to Murray when Jackson reportedly got into medical trouble. Anding said she heard a commotion and then got cut off and couldn't get back in touch. This call was at 11.51AM. The ambulance wasn't called until 12.21PM, 30 minutes later. This fact does show that Murray did not act appropriately to the situation. If someone is to stop breathing every minute counts. After 30 minutes without breathing or pulse there is very little that could be done to save someone life.
In total Murray was on the phone for 46 minutes out of the hour before Michael Jackson reportedly stopped breathing. This strongly supports the prosecution’s claim that Murray was negligent and this negligence lead to Michael dying.
Tim Lopez
The final testimony of the day came from Tim Lopez, a pharmacist. In the lead up to the trial there was some worry about Lopez as he left the country (against orders) and disappeared to Thailand. Luckily he return to the US to testify.
Lopez testified that he sent large quantities of Propofol to Murray. Lopez first met Murray in 2008 when Murray asked for a skin whitening cream for African-American patients that suffer from Vitiligo (a disease Jackson suffered from).
Lopez went on to say in April 2009 Murray ordered 35 vials of Propofol. Murray kept some of the vials and sent the rest to a Santa Monica address (reportedly Nicole Alvarez's address). Between April - June 2009 Murray then kept ordering lots more Propofol.
The jury were showed receipts of the large amounts of Propofol that Murray purchased.
In total 225 vials of Propofol, 20 vials of Lorazepam and 60 vials of Midazolam (another treatment for insomnia and sedation) were purchased by Murray. This is an incredible, and unreasonably, large amount of drugs. Even to someone who is not an expert this seems absurdly excessive. This fact will be key to the trial.
The court was then adjourned early due to a possible weather condition.
A fair trial?
Outside of the courtroom the trial is also getting much discussion - and mainly down to Murray and the defence team! There have been reports that Murray was discussing the case with his barber over the weekend. As previously mentioned a gagging order has been put in place by the judge after the defence had been speaking to the media about the case last week. I think it is extraordinary that the defendant and his team are openly discussing the case outside the courtroom.
I think this shows the big difference between US and UK law. Under no circumstances in the UK can a case be discussed outside the courtroom and it cannot be televised.
Also last week LaToya Jackson had been tweeting live from the courtroom. In the UK people have gone to prison for doing this.
I really don't see how the jury are expected to cut themselves off from hearing about the case when everyone involved in the case is openly discussing it with the world. It also shows how cases in the US can be more trialled in public and press than in the courtroom. The recent Casey Anthony case was plastered all over the US media and anyone who had read or heard anything about that case had made their mind up about the verdict. And the majority thought Anthony was guilty.
When the verdict was reached and Anthony was found not guilty there was a huge public backlash against the jury. One juror came forward and said they just could not give a guilty verdict without having enough evidence. It seems the hype and reportage in the press whipped up a frenzy that convicted Anthony in the public’s eyes. Although the facts in the trial were very condemning it came down to the fact of was there enough evidence to prove guilt? The jury did not think this was the case. This does seem vital as Casey Anthony was possibly facing the death penalty.
There have been discussions in the media that the jury in this case may feel under pressure to give a guilty verdict to Murray even if they are not 100% certain from the evidence they have witnessed to avoid a public backlash, such as what happened to the jurors in the Casey Anthony case.
The trial continues.
Sophie Dewing (@sophiedewing)
http://exploredreamdiscoverblog.blogspot.com/
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