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Latoya Jackson arriving at the courthouse AP Photo/Reed Saxon

WATCH: Michael Jackson's family arrive for trial of star's doctor

Dr Conrad Murray has gone on trial in LA accused of killing Michael Jackson by “involuntary manslaughter”.

MICHAEL JACKSON’S FORMER doctor Conrad Murray has today gone on trial in Los Angeles, accused of killing the pop star in an act of “involuntary manslaughter”.

Jurors heard the pop star’s slurred words while he was on a powerful anaesthetic, caught on tape weeks before his death. They also saw a photo of his pale body lying on a gurney after he died from an overdose of a powerful anesthetic, during opening statements by prosecutors.

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren described Jackson as “highly under the influence” when speaking with Murray in May 2009. The singer is heard slurring his words and barely audible, saying he wanted to impress those who watched his upcoming comeback concerts.

“When people leave my show, I want them to say, ‘I’ve never seen nothing like this in my life,’” the voice on the recording says.

On June 25, 2009, Jackson died of an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol.

“What happened during that time frame is that the acts and omissions of Michael Jackson’s personal doctor Conrad Murray directly led to his premature death at age 50,” Walgren told jurors.

He said Jackson trusted Murray as his physician. “That misplaced trust in Conrad Murray cost Michael Jackson his life,” Walgren said.

A number of Jackson’s family members were in the courthouse, including his father Joseph, mother Katherine, sisters LaToya and Janet, and brothers Jermaine, Randy and Tito. LaToya Jackson carried a sunflower, Michael’s favorite flower.

Murray arrived holding hands with his mother.

Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and he and his attorneys have denied he gave Jackson anything that should have killed the pop superstar. Defense attorneys will present an alternate theory — that Jackson ingested or somehow gave himself the fatal dose.

Watch: Jackon’s family arriving at the courthouse

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    Mute Michael Campbell
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    Sep 25th 2011, 1:30 PM

    Horrible sport and then when they have drawn blood and tortured the poor creature they go to mass Sick

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    Mute Rachael M
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    Sep 25th 2011, 1:57 PM

    Good riddance to it, barbaric "sport"

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    Mute Jason Doyle
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    Sep 25th 2011, 3:04 PM

    About time.

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    Mute Mata Mata
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    Sep 25th 2011, 3:29 PM

    Here here !

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    Mute Diari Liffey
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    Sep 25th 2011, 3:33 PM

    One step more towards independence. Thanks God they are banning this.
    The problem is not because it’s an Spanish tradition, it’s because apart from being a complete shame, Spanish traditions in Catalonia have always been imposed by force and that usually creates a rejection. Catalonia has its own traditions and culture, it does not need anybody to go there and replace them as some have been trying to do during the last 300 years..

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    Mute RG Cuan
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    Sep 25th 2011, 6:14 PM

    Maith thú, visca la terra!

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    Mute Jeff
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    Sep 26th 2011, 10:28 AM

    I am all for Catalonia independence as it means Shelbourne FC will get to play Barcelona FC in the qualifying rounds of champions league more often.

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    Mute Ryan Coughlin
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    Sep 26th 2011, 12:45 AM

    You people are upset that this bull’s life gets ended in a quick 45 minute flurry? Sounds much nicer than living in a small crowded pen his entire life to get butchered and fed to some unthinking human. At least this bull got to live a somewhat natural existence outside with proper food and freedom.

    People always want to blame the OTHER guy for his mistakes. But the fact is, if you’re eating meat, you’re responsible for a whole heap of more animal cruelty, not to mention that meat is 1/4th part of the man-made CO2 today, and a big part in forest destruction.

    Frankly, this vegetarian would be happy letting the Spanish choose what to do with their (infrequently practiced) tradition, and then to ban all factory farms worldwide.

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    Mute Richard Fennessy
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    Sep 26th 2011, 8:08 AM

    quick 45 mins go visit a farm they live in fields not pens and the killing takes 2-5 seconds

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    Mute Ryan Coughlin
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    Sep 27th 2011, 2:33 AM

    Hi Richard.

    Quickly do a Google search. The amount of meat consumed on the planet that comes from traditional, non-factory farms is considerably less than 50%. And the proportion of non-factory animals in the world is decreasing per day.

    I imagine that most of us have never seen a steel mill, but it doesn’t mean that my metal products have come from a blacksmith.

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    Mute Richard Fennessy
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    Sep 25th 2011, 11:31 PM

    shame shame on the sickos who give thumbs down to this shameful blood thirsty evil scum i hope ye dont have kids r pets

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    Mute Diari Liffey
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    Sep 25th 2011, 7:40 PM

    Some pictures of this afternoon shame http://bit.ly/rjE7bl

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    Mute Jeff
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    Sep 26th 2011, 10:30 AM

    Bull fighting is no more cruel than Halal meat & dead a lot quicker and less painful.

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