Manslaughter Hearing for Michael Jackson's Doctor Brings Out Cast of Characters

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.

Ortega talked about how he was worried about Jackson's health at a rehearsal several days before Jackson's death. He said Jackson appeared spacey and out of it.

At first, Jackson said he'd sit out rehearsals and observe them from the stands of L.A.'s Staples Center. Ortega said Jackson than decided to go home sick after discussing how he was feeling.

On June 20, 2009, Ortega said he was called to Jackson's home for a meeting, where Murray and executives funding the show told Ortega to essentially stay out of Jackson's health problems and to focus only on directing the show. He was told Jackson's health was fine.

Following Ortega, Jackson's personal assistant, Michael Amir Williams, stepped up to the witness stand. He described the great rehearsal they had the night before Jackson died and recounted the frantic call he received from Murray to get over to the house. Murray told him Jackson had a bad reaction to the drugs he'd been given.

Ortega, Williams and Muhammad are just three of what could be a star-studded list of witnesses.

Jackson's oldest son, 13-year-old Prince Michael, also may testify, Radaronline reported Sunday.

At the end of the hearing, which could last days, a judge will determine whether there is enough evidence for Murray to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter. The Houston cardiologist previously pleaded not guilty. His attorneys maintain he did not give Jackson anything that should have killed him.

If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, Murray, 57, could get four years in prison and lose his medical license. Murray, who is being held on $75,000 bail, also faces a civil trial over a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Jackson family.

ABC News' Ashleigh Banfield and Zunaira Zaki contributed to this report.