USA: Audio recording of Michael Jackson's slurred speech played at Conrad Murray's trial

Record ID: 192901

  • Title: USA: Audio recording of Michael Jackson's slurred speech played at Conrad Murray's trial
  • Date: 6th October 2011
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 05, 2011) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) CONRAD MURRAY SITTING WIDESHOT COURTROOM MICHAEL JACKSON AUDIO RECORDING PLAYING IN COURTROOM AS PROSECUTION SHOWS DOCUMENT WITH TRANSCRIPTION PROSECUTOR DAVID WALGREN MAN ON WITNESS STAND MURRAY
  • Embargoed: 21st October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA610A8E451V5T3LA8SJZKYJAD9
  • Story Text: An audio recording of Michael Jackson's slurred speech was played in court Wednesday (October 05), at Dr. Conrad Murray's trial for involuntary manslaughter in Los Angeles.
    The recording, which lasts about four minutes long, was recorded on May 10, 2009, just over one month before Jackson's death at age 50 on June 25, 2009. Portions of the recording were played during opening statements for the prosecution on September 27; it was admitted into evidence Wednesday through testimony by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Computer Forensics Examiner, Stephan Marx In the recording, a partly unintelligible Jackson seems to be heavily drugged, slurring his words while talking with Murray about his then-upcoming concert series, "This is it."
    "We have to be phenomenal," Jackson said, speaking to Murray. "When people leave my show, I want them to say 'I've never seen nothing like this in my life. Go. Go. I've never seen nothing like this. Go. It's amazing. He's the greatest entertainer in the world."
    Jackson is also heard talking about his love for children.
    "I love them because I didn't have a childhood. I feel their hurt," Jackson said on the recording.
    Murray is on trial for involuntary manslaughter for regularly administering the powerful anesthetic propofol to Jackson, which eventually led to a fatal overdose of the drug. Prosecutors are seeking to prove that Murray acted irresponsibly by administering propofol, and failed to monitor him properly.
    Defense attorneys claim that after Murray gave Jackson propofol, the pop star gave himself another dose when Murray was out of the room.
    Murray, who has pleaded not guilty, faces up to four years in prison if convicted.
  • Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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