LOS ANGELES — Closing arguments are expected to begin Thursday in Conrad Murray’s five-week long involuntary manslaughter trial in the death of Michael Jackson after Murray declined to testify in his own defense and both sides rested their cases.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor announced Tuesday that the court would be in recess until 9:00am Thursday to give both the prosecution and the defense time to sort out jury instructions and to prepare for the final stage of the trial.
The defense said it was resting its case Tuesday after Murray told the court he would not take the stand.
Murray is accused of being criminally negligent in the administration of the anesthetic propofol that ultimately killed the 50-year-old pop star on June 25, 2009. Murray, who was Jackson’s personal physician, has pleaded not guilty.
Shortly thereafter, the prosecution completed its examination of its sole rebuttal witness, Dr. Steven Shafer.
Prosecutor David Walgren brought Shafer to the stand Tuesday to reiterate the theory that Murray injected the propofol into Jackson.
Shafer’s testimony throughout the trial has directly contrasted with the conclusions of the defense’s medical expert witness, Dr. Paul White.
White claims that while Murray’s conduct fell below accepted medical standards, the medical evidence shows that Jackson injected himself with the propofol. White completed his testimony Tuesday morning.
White was reported to have been batted on the head by a protester’s sign as he left the courthouse.
Whether or not Murray is found guilty will likely depend on whether the jury finds Shafer’s or White’s conclusions about Jackson’s death more persuasive.
In their defense of Murray, attorneys have advanced a theory that an insomnia-suffering Jackson fatally injected himself with an overdose of propofol in an attempt to sleep at night while rehearsing for his upcoming world tour.
The prosecution, however, insists that Murray is guilty of involuntary manslaughter for giving in to the demands of his famous patient and negligently administering the overdose of propofol himself to maintain his $150,000-a-month salary as Jackson’s personal physician.
Under California’s involuntary manslaughter statute, prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Murray’s actions involved “a high risk of death or great bodily harm” and were “committed without due caution” in order to obtain a conviction.
If convicted, Murray faces up to four years in prison and the loss of his medical license, which has been suspended pending the trial’s outcome.