Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

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

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute donal O'brien
    Favourite donal O'brien
    Report
    Aug 8th 2023, 5:26 PM

    Howabout passing the exams first time and no need for these fees?

    91
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Smith
    Favourite Robert Smith
    Report
    Aug 8th 2023, 11:17 PM

    @donal O’brien: Says the fella who can’t even capitalise his own name lol.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Mc Sweeney
    Favourite Tom Mc Sweeney
    Report
    Aug 8th 2023, 11:29 PM

    @Robert Smith: We’ll said.I can’t bear pompous fools.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute parislanuit1
    Favourite parislanuit1
    Report
    Aug 8th 2023, 7:08 PM

    Let’s introduce another measure to protect the mental health of students! Sure we have already dumbed down the Junior Cert, sorry junior cycle now! We are in the process of dumbing down the leaving cert! Sorry making it more accessible! We need you to pass the exams now one way or another even though they are not able as we need to get their fee money off them

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute I can see clearly now
    Favourite I can see clearly now
    Report
    Aug 8th 2023, 10:27 PM

    @John John: From what I’ve observed, you don’t spend much time away from this site with your snide and demeaning remarks. Are you employed?

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lorne Malvo
    Favourite Lorne Malvo
    Report
    Aug 8th 2023, 8:00 PM

    There is no shortage of work out there for students, bar staff, lounge staff, waiters, kitchen porters, shop attendants, shelf stackers the list is endless. Fees should be doubled for repeats.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute I can see clearly now
    Favourite I can see clearly now
    Report
    Aug 8th 2023, 11:04 PM

    @Lorne Malvo: What does that serve? Is it possible the reason they didn’t pass the first time is they were working to fund going to college as their parents are of little means?

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lorne Malvo
    Favourite Lorne Malvo
    Report
    Aug 9th 2023, 12:22 AM

    @I can see clearly now: a couple of weeks work after the failed exams would pay for the repeat exams. I never mentioned working before the exams.

    5
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute I can see clearly now
    Favourite I can see clearly now
    Report
    Aug 9th 2023, 7:04 AM

    @John John: But who are you to make that assumption? I will be objective and say that yes, possibly there are some that have not done their study in order to pass the exam – but they tend to take it seriously the second time around. It isn’t that they are incapable, I would say rather that they have been distracted by college life.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute I can see clearly now
    Favourite I can see clearly now
    Report
    Aug 9th 2023, 7:06 AM

    @Lorne Malvo: Yes Lorne, you never mentioned working before the exams as a potential factor for failing. One has to take all possibilities into account.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lorne Malvo
    Favourite Lorne Malvo
    Report
    Aug 9th 2023, 11:10 AM

    @I can see clearly now: I’ve no interest in why they are failing exams in the first place. You brought that into the conversation.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Margaret Tiernan
    Favourite Margaret Tiernan
    Report
    Aug 9th 2023, 12:02 AM

    There are so many reasons why students do not pass exams first time round, let’s not be too hasty to judge regarding these reasons and the stress it places on the students who do need to repeat.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tommy Haze
    Favourite Tommy Haze
    Report
    Aug 8th 2023, 7:06 PM

    Read an article recently about a time when students were radical taking to the streets to fight causes for social and political justice. Anti Establishment fervour.
    Hard to believe isn’t it?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sylvia Power
    Favourite Sylvia Power
    Report
    Aug 8th 2023, 7:43 PM

    @Tommy Haze: Any time young people protest anything, which happens a lot, the comments on the articles here are heaps of people telling them to get back to class. What do ye people want

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alina
    Favourite Alina
    Report
    Aug 9th 2023, 1:33 PM

    Honestly, the fees should not be scrapped. It is not the college’s fault that staff need to be paid to administer and correct the repeat exams, as well as needing money to print out and purchase all the relevant papers and whatnot. If a student fails one or more exams, it is their fault and as such it is their responsibility to pay for it. If the money is not coming from the student who failed, it is coming from the fees of other students who have not failed, or otherwise, the Irish taxpayer. Why should responsible students and/or the Irish taxpayer pay for the failures of students? They shouldn’t.

    €295 is a drop in the bucket compared to things like the €3,000 student contribution fee, or the €5,000+ fee that University of Galway charges for international students to repeat their exams. Students are whining about less than €300, when I can almost guarantee you that these same students are spending their money on lunches either on campus or in one of the shops across the road from the university, or on things like gum, teas/coffees and/or other treats, and/or alcohol, vapes, cigarettes, in various shops or pubs. If these students cut down on any one of these categories of frivolous spending, it would almost certainly save them way more than €295.
    I would understand if these concerns were coming from frugal students who just genuinely don’t have a lot cash after their bills and didn’t get lucky with their parents nor the student grant, but this is not the case. These whiners are almost certainly not the financially responsible type. (And I honestly think that personal finance classes should be compulsory for all students).

    And this is coming from myself, a student who attends this university. I really hope our President does not listen to these Student Union folk, because I don’t want my fees (nor my taxes) being spent on other students’ repeat exams, thank you.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pato
    Favourite Pato
    Report
    Aug 8th 2023, 10:50 PM

    The union don’t charge the fees but the membership pay them. They can just pay what they feel is fair.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pato
    Favourite Pato
    Report
    Aug 8th 2023, 7:21 PM

    Why propose it. Do it.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Berry
    Favourite Thomas Berry
    Report
    Aug 8th 2023, 7:55 PM

    @Pato: Eh.. The union don’t charge the fees.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Carroll
    Favourite James Carroll
    Report
    Aug 8th 2023, 9:22 PM

    @Pato: Why suppose it. Read it.

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds