MJ fans, we need Dr. Barry Friedberg, anesthesiologist and a leading propofol expert, to take the stand for the prosecution in the People v. Conrad Murray case. Dr. Friedberg has been very vocal in his stance; that Conrad Murray is guilty in the homicide of Michael Jackson.
Dr. Friedberg accurately predicted that Conrad Murray would stand trial for involuntary manslaughter. He cites these three reasons:
1. No pulse oximeter was present in the room at the time of death.
2. Murray admitted he was out of the room when Michael stopped breathing. (Although Dr. Richelle Cooper's testimony states that Murray said he witnessed the arrest.)
3. A brain monitor could have measured the amount of propofol in Jackson's system, separately from the benzodiazepines.
Of note, "Dr. Friedberg has developed a new standard of care for the administration of anesthesia that virtually eliminates any damage to the brain during surgery..." Friedberg developed a method called the Goldilocks Method (not too little, not too much) so that each individual patient receives exactly the amount of anesthesia needed, eliminating any under or overdose to the patient.
As to the defense's claim that Michael Jackson self injected or self ingested propofol, Dr. Friedberg states, "Dr. Murray failed to watch and monitor his patient and nothing else matters. No amount of legal defense attorney posturing can relieve Murray of his responsibility to have watched and monitored his patient."
Friedberg adds that there will be little justice for the Jackson family with a sure conviction of Murray. "But the Jackson family will never get meaningful justice from the criminal justice system, because even if convicted of involuntary manslaughter the accused Conrad Murray will only face a maximum of four years' prison time. That's hardly justice for killing Michael Jackson."
22 years ago on today's date, January 17, a deranged man opened fire on Cleveland Elementary School in Stockton, California, killing 5 children. Patrick Purdy, the lone gunman, pulled his station wagon into the back of the school, lit his car on fire, put earplugs in his ears, and sprayed at least 106 bullets into a schoolyard full of mostly kindergarten to third graders. The assault lasted 4 minutes, and when it was over, one teacher and 29 children were wounded, and 5 children were dead. Purdy then shot himself in the head with a pistol.
I have a family member who lived in Stockton at the time of the shootings. When asked, she said that there is no way to accurately describe the atmosphere in Stockon on that day. Every single elementary, middle and high school in the Stockton area was locked down for hours. Every single student who attended Stockton Unified School District was ordered to get under their desk, and stay there for over an hour. Parents were understandably terrified; most parents wanted to pull their children out of school. Yet, SUSD would not allow it for fear of any other type of shootings that might occur at another school site.
In the days after the shooting, kids were afraid to go to school. Likewise, parents were afraid to send their children to school. While Patrick Purdy was pegged as a loner with no affiliation to any group in particular, the fear in the air was still palpable. And although the Cleveland School shootings made the national news, Stockton saw no help from any entertainer who might provide relief. That is, until Michael Jackson came to Stockton.
A few weeks after the shootings, Diane Batres, head the of Victim Witness program in Stockton, received a phone call from MJJ Productions. At the time Batres did not associate MJJ Productions with Michael Jackson. After learning that Michael Jackson was interested in visiting the school and the surviving children, Batres and Jackson set up a day when Michael could visit the school.
"It was very kind of him to do this. He brought truckloads of gifts and held children in his arms. He was genuinely concerned and expressed his sorrow." Michael also distributed videotapes of his latest recordings to the children and staff at the school. One of the songs distributed was Man in the Mirror.
"One of the mothers called after the experience and said, 'I am so glad I saw that' because she realized for the first time that there were yellow tears, white tears, brown tears and black tears. Every tear was the same color. They all felt the same sadness."
The above picture was taken in Stockton while visiting Cleveland Elementary School. This is the Michael Jackson we all know and love. Like Martin Luther King, Michael Jackson had a dream, too.
Well MJ fans, we survived the preliminary hearing, knowing that the defense has only just begun to try to drag Michael Jackson's name and legacy through the mud. There are many blogs that have provided invaluable information regarding the prelim, so I thought I'd add them into a blog here, along with the research information I found outside of the blogosphere.
One of the best places to find information is the Sprocket blog. The reason that this information is so valuable is because is it information based without bias. One of the authors of the blog sat in the room outside of the courtroom and reported play-by-play exactly what was said in court. Like Erin Jacobs, who called in to ustream on breaks from the courthouse, these reports are immeasurably valuable to those of us who do not rely on mainstream media due to their consistent bias against Michael Jackson. Here are what I perceive to be the most important testimonies of the prelim:
1. Kenny Ortega: A meeting was called at the Holmby home on June 30th because MJ missed a week of rehearsals in June. Ortega denies that he "yelled" at Michael, but rather that he cared about MJ. Ortega testifies that Murray scolded him for sending MJ home. Ortega also testified that on June 23/24, MJ's rehearsals went very well.
The reason that this particular testimony is interesting is because this is not what we have read happened from Katherine Jackson's lawsuit against AEG court docs. The court docs state that MJ was scolded by AEG, and that AEG threatened to pull the plug on the tour if MJ did not start coming to rehearsals. In addition, the court docs also state that AEG instructed MJ to stop seeing Dr. Klein, and to only deal with Dr. Murray.
2. Alberto Alvarez: Alvarez testified that he saw an IV bag with a bottle inside of it, and at the bottom of the bag there was a white liquid in it. Alvarez also testifies that Murray states that he needs to do mouth to mouth on MJ, and this is his first time doing it.
This means that there was a bottle inside the IV bag. This is highly unusual and in my opinion only, crosses the boundary of negligence into complete incompetence.
3. Richard Senneff (EMT at the scene): Senneff testifies that Murray lied about the time that he found Michael not breathing. Senneff states that Michael probably stopped breathing from 20 minutes to an hour before Senneff arrived on the scene.
4. Martin Blount (EMT #2): Blount testifies that Murray stated that MJ had been in arrest for 5 minutes when he called 911. Blount also testifies that Michael's skin was cool to the touch. In cross examination, defense tries to insinuate that with "drug addicts", it is harder to find a vein to start a central line. (EMT's did in fact have a hard time finding a vein.) However, Blount states that he worked on a known drug addict in the past and was still able to find a vein.
Defense cross is significant because we know that they will try to convince the jury/Judge Pastor that Michael Jackson was a drug addict.
5. Dr. Richelle Cooper (UCLA ER) Cooper testifies that Murray witnessed cardiac arrest. Cooper also testifies that a 25 mg dose of propofol would only sedate a patient for 5-10 minutes.
6. Dr. Nuygen: (UCLA ER) Nuygen states that Murray only admitted to giving MJ Ativan, but no other benzodiazepines or propofol.
7. Christopher Rogers (L.A. Coroner's office): No matter how hard defense tries to insinuate that MJ swallowed propofol and therefore he killed himself, Rogers testifies again and again that first, there is no indication that the stomach contents suggest ingestion. And secondly, that however unlikely ingestion is, Michael's death would still be a homicide because Murray left an anesthetized patient unattended.
8. Dr. Richard Ruffalo (Anesthesiologist): Ruffalo states that he believes the benzodiazepines given were much higher than Murray stated, based on blood tests taken after death. Ruffalo agrees with Christopher Rogers, that the stomach contents do not support oral ingestion. ______________________________________________________________
I am including two videos that are radio posts from Sirius, which include commentary by doctors regarding Michael Jackson's death. The first video was made right after the autopsy report came out, announcing Michael Jackson's death was ruled a homicide. Of note, at 1:38 the doctor states that both Ativan and Versed were found in MJ's body, and that they both suppress breathing. At 3:57, the doctor states that the combination of all the drugs increases the likelihood that he would stop breathing. The next video questions whether Michael could have died much earlier (a question I ask over and over to myself). At :30, the doctor states that if MJ had died hours earlier, rigor mortis would have started to set in (about 2 hours in the jaws). The doctor also states that it is very difficult to introduce an endotracheal tube because the jaws will not move.
Since the F-902M form (paramedic's report) does not state rigor mortis, but does state lividity (which can occur after 30 minutes) we can assume that Michael Jackson had been dead from 30 minutes to an hour/hour and a half before paramedics arrived on the scene.
There is just something very, very wrong with this picture, MJ fans. Murray had never given mouth to mouth? He didn't know that Ativan or Versed suppressed breathing? He didn't know that propofol requires oxygen and monitoring? He states that he witnessed MJ's cardiac arrest, but didn't call 911? I know a lot of fans who think that MJ died at the hands of a negligent and completely incompetent doctor, but when we put all the facts together, this spells INTENT, not criminal negligence, to me.
This song is the most relevant Michael Jackson at this point in time. With Conrad Murray to stand trial and his license suspended by Judge Pastor, we must keep the faith that TX and NV will follow suit, and that Murray will be convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
After a heartwrenchingly difficult week for Michael Jackson fans, we thought we would post this as a reminder of just exactly why we love him so much. This comes from MJ's poems and reflections, Dancing the Dream. You are able to download it for free here. The ideas that Michael wrote here truly reflect the beauty of Michael Jackson's psychological makeup. We found it comforting to read his thoughts at such a difficult time.
The reflection chosen to be posted here is called Enough for Today.
Dance rehearsals can go on past midnight, but this time I stopped at ten. "I hope you don't mind," I said, looking up into space, "but that's enough for today."
A voice from the control room spoke. "You okay?"
"A little tired, I guess," I said.
I slipped on a windbreaker and headed down the hall. Running footsteps came up behind me. I was pretty sure who they belonged to. "I know you too well," she said, catching up with me. "What's really wrong?"
I hesitated. "Well, I don't know how this sounds, but I saw a picture today in the papers. A dolphin had drowned in a fishing net. From the way its body was tangled in the lines, you could read so much agony. Its eyes were vacant, yet there was still that smile, the one dolphins never lose, even when they die..." My voice trailed off.
She put her hand lightly in mine. "I know, I know."
"No, you don't know all of it yet. It's not just that I felt sad, or had to face the fact that an innocent being had died. Dolphins love to dance -- of all the creatures in the sea, that's their mark. Asking nothing from us, they cavort in the waves while we marvel. They race ahead of ships, not to get there first but to tell us, 'It's all meant to be play. Keep to your course, but dance while you do it.' "So there I was, in the middle of rehearsal, and I thought, 'They're killing a dance.' And then it seemed only right to stop. I can't keep the dance from being killed, but at least I can pause in memory, as one dancer to another. Does that make any sense?"
Her eyes were tender. "Sure, in its way. Probably we'll wait years before everyone agrees on how to solve this thing. So many interests are involved. But it's too frustrating waiting for improvements tomorrow. Your heart wanted to have its say now."
"Yes," I said, pushing the door open for her. "I just had this feeling, and that's enough for today."
While this reflection is bittersweet, it once again reminds us of the tender soul that Michael possessed. It also reminds us that Michael is free now; he is no longer a dolphin in the net.
We knew it was coming and yet, I had a very hard time with today's testimony. I was at work today when ustream was on, so I am taking the highlights of today's testimony from what was reported in the media.
1. Opening statements by prosecutor David Walgren:
Walgren gives a timeline of events that most of us already know. If you don't know the timeline of events, click here.
Of note, prosecution claims:
Murray found doing one armed compressions (CPR) on a soft bed.
Murray tells Alberto Alvarez to collect medical bottles and IV bag before calling 911.
Murray waited at least 20 minutes to call 911.
Jackson's body was found with eyes and mouth open.
Paramedics' report states the body was cool to the touch and flatlined.
Report also states lack of appropriate resuscitative equipment.
Murray did not report to paramedics or ER doctors the administration of propofol to Michael Jackson. Murray only states valium and flomax to ER doctors.
2. First to testify: Kenny Ortega. Ortega states that on June 19, Michael was not feeling well. Ortega told Jackson it was okay for him to go home and to rest. Ortega also states that Murray was upset by this, stating that Murray should make these types of decisions.
June 20: At a meeting held at Jackson's rented home, Ortega stated that Jackson had the chills and not feeling well. Murray, on the other hand, stated that Michael was both physically and emotionally fine. Ortega denies that he read "the riot act" to Jackson at this meeting.
June 23-24: Ortega states that Michael was happy and had two days of great rehearsals.
3. Next up: Faheem Muhammad, Jackson's bodyguard. He stated that when he got to the room Michael was in, Murray was doing compressions on Michael. Murray asked if anyone knew how to do CPR. Prince and Paris were at the door watching and at some point, Paris was on the floor on her knees crying. Muhammad stated that when they were at UCLA, Murray stated that he was hungry. Murray spoke to the family, and left.
4. Michael Amir, Jackson's assistant. Amir states that prior to calling 911, Murray called Amir. Amir states that once he was at the hospital, Murray wanted to return to the Holmby house to get some cream that Michael wouldn't want the world to know about.
I've decided to wait to comment until after the preliminary trial has ended. We can do that in the comments section if you'd like.
With a difficult week coming up for Michael Jackson fans, I thought I'd try something different. This is my first attempt at a video project...and most will be able to tell that. However, it is dedicated to all of Michael's Angels in the Shadows. One love and unity for all of the MJ fan-mily through the trial, and most of all, justice for Michael Jackson.
MJ fans, we need Dr. Barry Friedberg, anesthesiologist and a leading propofol expert, to take the stand for the prosecution in the People v. Conrad Murray case. Dr. Friedberg has been very vocal in his stance; that Conrad Murray is guilty in the homicide of Michael Jackson.
