11-03-2011, 06:46 PM
jury will have it today.
LATimes
A prosecutor in the trial of Michael Jackson's personal physician told jurors on Thursday that the testimony a renowned anesthesiologist gave in Dr. Conrad Murray's defense was "junk science."
The harsh rebuke of the testimony of Dr. Paul White, a leading expert on the surgical anesthetic propofol, came near the conclusion of the prosecution's closing argument. A defense attorney for Dr. Conrad Murray was expected to begin arguing before the jury in the afternoon.
White, who was among the first scientists in the U.S. to study the drug, testified over four days in Murray's defense and said Jackson probably injected himself with the drug and caused his own death.
Pointing out an early opinion White gave in the case that the pop star may have drunk the propofol that killed him, something he later conceded was impossible, Walgren said the expert, a retired University of Texas professor who wrote textbooks on the subject, should not be believed.
"It was garbage science," the prosecutor said. "What Dr. White came in [to court] and did was sad for science, and sad for truth-seeking."
Walgren said White, whom he called "a very notable person in the field of anesthetics," appeared to be consistent only in making one point: that Jackson died by his own hand.
"However he stretches the science ... he's going to find a way to blame this on Michael Jackson," he said.
Walgren told jurors that they should instead rely on the scientific opinions of the government's medical expert, Dr. Steven Shafer, a longtime colleague and friend of White's. Shafer testified that the most plausible scenario was that Murray gave Jackson 40 times more of the drug than he admitted to police.
edit to add:
Los Angeles (CNN) -- The evidence is "overwhelming" and "it's abundantly clear" that Dr. Conrad Murray caused the death of Michael Jackson, the lead prosecutor told jurors in closing arguments in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Jackson's doctor Thursday.
Defense lawyer Ed Chernoff argued there was no crime committed and it's a negligence case that should instead be heard by the state medical board.
"If it were anybody else but Michael Jackson, would this doctor be here today?" Chernoff asked.
The jury heard several hours of arguments from both sides Thursday and will begin deliberations on Murray's fate Friday morning.
LATimes
A prosecutor in the trial of Michael Jackson's personal physician told jurors on Thursday that the testimony a renowned anesthesiologist gave in Dr. Conrad Murray's defense was "junk science."
The harsh rebuke of the testimony of Dr. Paul White, a leading expert on the surgical anesthetic propofol, came near the conclusion of the prosecution's closing argument. A defense attorney for Dr. Conrad Murray was expected to begin arguing before the jury in the afternoon.
White, who was among the first scientists in the U.S. to study the drug, testified over four days in Murray's defense and said Jackson probably injected himself with the drug and caused his own death.
Pointing out an early opinion White gave in the case that the pop star may have drunk the propofol that killed him, something he later conceded was impossible, Walgren said the expert, a retired University of Texas professor who wrote textbooks on the subject, should not be believed.
"It was garbage science," the prosecutor said. "What Dr. White came in [to court] and did was sad for science, and sad for truth-seeking."
Walgren said White, whom he called "a very notable person in the field of anesthetics," appeared to be consistent only in making one point: that Jackson died by his own hand.
"However he stretches the science ... he's going to find a way to blame this on Michael Jackson," he said.
Walgren told jurors that they should instead rely on the scientific opinions of the government's medical expert, Dr. Steven Shafer, a longtime colleague and friend of White's. Shafer testified that the most plausible scenario was that Murray gave Jackson 40 times more of the drug than he admitted to police.
edit to add:
Los Angeles (CNN) -- The evidence is "overwhelming" and "it's abundantly clear" that Dr. Conrad Murray caused the death of Michael Jackson, the lead prosecutor told jurors in closing arguments in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Jackson's doctor Thursday.
Defense lawyer Ed Chernoff argued there was no crime committed and it's a negligence case that should instead be heard by the state medical board.
"If it were anybody else but Michael Jackson, would this doctor be here today?" Chernoff asked.
The jury heard several hours of arguments from both sides Thursday and will begin deliberations on Murray's fate Friday morning.