Manslaughter Hearing for Michael Jackson's Doctor Brings Out Cast of Characters
Katherine Jackson and Latoya Jackson in court for Dr. Conrad Murray's hearing.
Jan. 4, 2011 — -- Michael Jackson's son and daughter, Prince and Paris, saw the pop star's doctor administering CPR to his lifeless body, Jackson's head of security testified today during a hearing in the manslaughter case against Dr. Conrad Murray.
Faheem Muhammad said he first saw Jackson's feet, then observed Murray "on his knees in a panicked state trying to administer CPR."
According to Muhammad, Jackson's children witnessed this scene.
"Prince was in the doorway to bedroom," he said. "Paris was out in the hallway on a landing, on her hands and knees crying."
Murray's hearing began today in Los Angeles in a coutroom filled with Jackson's family members and fans. Murray is accused of killing Jackson by giving him a lethal dose of the powerful sedative propofol on June 25, 2009.
After the prosecution's opening statement (the defense chose not to present a statement), multiple witnesses were called to testify. Prosecutors laid out a scenario of Murray pumping Jackson full of a cocktail of drugs the night before his death.
They claimed it took a long time for Murray to notice Jackson was dead, and that when he did notice, he called Jackson's personal assistant to help hide evidence of the drugs he had given Jackson before they dialed 911.
Prosecutors said Jackson was long dead by the time paramedics arrived: His eyes were fixed and dilated, and he was cold. They decided there was nothing more they could do, but Murray took over and demanded the star be rushed to UCLA Medical Center.
Kenny Ortega, the director of Jackson's "This Is It" tour, which was eventually made into a movie, also testified today. He recounted that Jackson was excited about the tour, his first in years.
