The verdict
After 6 weeks, 49 witnesses, over 300 exhibits and 9 hours of deliberation the jury finally reached their verdict.
Juror number 3 passed the envelope with the verdict to the judge who read it, acknowledged an amendment and then passed it to be read and published by the court clerk.
The jury unanimously voted a verdict of GUILTY.
Conrad Murray’s face remained emotionless, much like we have seen throughout the trial. The only person to express emotion was Ed Chernoff, who hung his head and looked defeated.
As the verdict was read out someone in the court room shouted ‘yes!’ and cheers from the crowd outside the court could be heard.
Judge Pastor then thanked the jury for their service and read them their rights now that they are no longer under court rule. He also asked to meet them in the juror’s room to personally thank them for their “sacrifice”.
He then told them they must wait 90 days before they can agree to give any details about the trial in exchange for money.
Further proceedings
Judge Pastor then told the defence that sentencing must commence on, or before, the 8th December 2011. Ed Chernoff then requested a date – 29th November 2011. The prosecution agreed with this date.
Conrad Murray will now be sentenced at 8.30AM on Tuesday 29th November 2011.
The prosecution then asked Judge Pastor to keep Conrad Murray in remand with no bail until his sentencing. Walgren stated that Murray has had 2 years to prepare for this trial and is now a convicted felon.
The defence then stated that remand doesn’t apply as Murray has been on remand for the past 18 months with no problems whatsoever.
Judge Pastor then told the court that Conrad Murray was presumed innocent but has been found guilty on a unanimous vote and is now a convicted felon.
He stated the things he needed when considering remand were:
1) Protection of the public.
Judge Pastor stated that this was not an error of judgement. This was a homicide. The result of his actions was the death of a human being. This should lead to him being held in remand without bail
2) The seriousness of the charge
3) Previous criminal record
Conrad Murray has no previous charges or convictions
4) Probability of not coming to court
Judge Pastor stated that although Murray had always attended every court hearing now he is a convicted felon. Judge Pastor therefore cannot trust that Conrad Murray would turn up to his sentencing, especially as he has many connections outside the state of California.
5) Public safety
Judge Pastor stated that due to the nature of the charge and the subsequent guilty verdict he believes that Conrad Murray is a threat to the public.
Taking all of these into consideration Judge Pastor deemed it appropriate to place Conrad Murray into remand without bail until his sentencing on the 29th November.
As the details were read out Murray was handcuffed. It did seem to catch him unawares and was a very striking moment to watch.
Summary
For many today feels like the end of over two years of waiting. For Conrad Murray this is just the beginning. He is yet to be sentenced and to find out whether his medical licence will be revoked. The start of Conrad Murray’s life as a convicted felon is just about to commence.
The remunerations of this will be vast and far reaching. For the rest of his life Conrad Murray will be known as the man who killed Michael Jackson.
This is a huge burden to bear but if anything hopefully it will make doctors aware of their actions and to remember that it is always a doctor’s prerogative to refuse treatment of a patient if it is not in their best interest. I really hope that as this case has put a spotlight on the US health care system and the culture of profit over people will be assessed and changes made. Michael Jackson is not the first, and won’t be the last, person to die from a drugs overdose at doctor’s hands.
This verdict is the final chapter and verse in Michael Jackson’s life. It is sad to think that instead of bowing out on a high the final curtain is draw on yet another court case. It is also tragic to think that the verdict shows that Michael Jackson would be alive today had Dr Murray monitored Jackson correctly.
The biggest tragedy of course is that three children will mark every milestone in their life minus their father.
My personal views
For me personally the trial has been fascinating but trying. I have experienced a whole range of emotions and have swung back and forth with indecision about the verdict.
I had always never really known before the trial what to believe and tried to enter with no bias. Throughout the past 6 weeks I have come to believe that Conrad Murray did not intend to kill Michael Jackson. I believe Conrad Murray was swayed by prestige and money and that this compromised his judgement and medical ethics.
The thing I have battled with most throughout the trial was my ability to dehumanise Michael Jackson. From hearing so much evidence it was easy for me to think of Michael Jackson as a commodity rather than a human being. I feel that the closing arguments finally brought the case back to the fact that this was a human’s life that was being discussed.
I must say that throughout the case David Walgren and Deborah Brazil have been outstanding. I, as have many other people, always found Murray’s defence team to be ill-prepared and unimpressive. I do think this had a negative effect for Murray but ultimately no matter what Murray’s actions were always going to lead to a guilty verdict.
Although this might be Michael Jackson’s final act in his life, it is certain that he will never be forgotten. His legacy of music, dance, performance and philanthropy will live on throughout generations to come. The magic of Michael Jackson will continue to excite, inspire and entertain long after we are all gone.
For me I am so happy to have been able to have experienced the excitement of Jackson’s mania. When I was a child in the 80’s everyone wanted to be Michael Jackson. My outstanding Jackson memory is that every year in my primary school disco the DJ would play Billie Jean and after the first ‘boom ka’ a boy named Freedom would be surrounded by the whole school as he mesmerised everyone with his Jackson moves. This may be an insignificant fable but just thinking about those moments evokes a childlike sense of wonderment and the belief that anything is possible.
And that is why I admire Michael Jackson. For giving people the belief to aspire and believe in the impossible. Not only was he a musical and dancing genius but he brought people together. The world was united in their love for Michael Jackson. He broke records but more importantly broke down racial barriers. He overcame adversity many times but always remained graceful. And for me one of the most important legacies Jackson leaves is that of looking outside yourself and caring about the issues that affect the planet and our global neighbours.
Of course his life was not a bed of roses and not without many controversies. But if he can inspire and unite millions and give people the ability to dream big and strive for things no one knew were possible then that is a positive mind set to instil in our children.
And that is what I hope to remember of Michael Jackson. Although the latter years of Michael’s life were filled with contention it is clear from this case that he was a man who was suffering. He lived an isolated and lonely existence, with no one really looking out for him. Yet he still preached love and awareness and I believe that is the proof of a beautiful soul.
For me my lingering memory will not be of a media sensationalist or a superstar with a tarnish reputation. For me it will always be that moment when Billie Jean comes on and the little girl in me believes in the unbelievable once more.
Thank you
After 7 weeks and over 40,000 words it is now time for me to complete my final blog on this case.
I would like to thank anybody that has taken the time to read my blog throughout this trial. I have had some truly wonderful feedback and it has made all the hard work worthwhile.
And I would like to say a special thanks to Anthony King, for giving my blog and voice a forum to express my opinions on his website.
Sophie Dewing
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