USA: Richard Senneff, a paramedic who responded to the 911 call for Michael Jackson, testifies the late pop star's doctor Conrad Murray told him Jackson had no underlying health condition and was only taking a mild sedative

Record ID: 449561

  • Title: USA: Richard Senneff, a paramedic who responded to the 911 call for Michael Jackson, testifies the late pop star's doctor Conrad Murray told him Jackson had no underlying health condition and was only taking a mild sedative
  • Date: 1st October 2011
  • Summary: WIDESHOT PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEBORAH BRAZIL, PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "Did you ask Dr. Murray whether or not the patient was taking any medications or had been given any medications?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) RICHARD SENNEFF, PARAMEDIC, SAYING: "Yes, I did." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEBORAH BRAZIL, PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "Did Dr. Murray provide you with an answer?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) RICHARD SENNEFF, PARAMEDIC, SAYING: "Yes." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEBORAH BRAZIL, PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "Did he provide you with an answer right off the bat when you first got in and asked that question?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) RICHARD SENNEFF, PARAMEDIC, SAYING: "No, I asked a couple of different times." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEBORAH BRAZIL, PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "Specifically regarding medications?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) RICHARD SENNEFF, PARAMEDIC, SAYING: "Yes." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEBORAH BRAZIL, PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "And, he initially didn't provide you with any information regarding any medications?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) RICHARD SENNEFF, PARAMEDIC, SAYING: "What I said initially of course was what is his underlying condition and then when I didn't get what I felt was a satisfactory answer, I explained to him, the reason I am asking is because I see an underweight patient, I see an IV here and I see medication vials on the night stand." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEBORAH BRAZIL, PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "In response to your questioning repeatedly regarding medications, did Dr. Murray provide you with information concerning medications?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) RICHARD SENNEFF, PARAMEDIC, SAYING: "At that point, he said no, he is not taking anything, and then he followed that up with I just gave him a little bit of Lorazepam to sleep." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEBORAH BRAZIL, PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "And Lorazepam is a mild sedative, correct?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) RICHARD SENNEFF, PARAMEDIC, SAYING: "Yes." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEBORAH BRAZIL, PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "Did you follow up with anything else Dr. Murray, are you giving him, or did you give him anything else?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) RICHARD SENNEFF, PARAMEDIC, SAYING: "I, I, let me think, he did, I asked was there anything else, is there anything else, and no that's it, just a little bit of Lorazepam." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEBORAH BRAZIL, PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "Did Dr. Murray provide you with any information as to what Dr. Murray was treating him for?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) RICHARD SENNEFF, PARAMEDIC, SAYING: "Yes, he did." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEBORAH BRAZIL, PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "What did he say?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) RICHARD SENNEFF, PARAMEDIC, SAYING: "He was treating him for dehydration and exhaustion." MURRAY SITTING
  • Embargoed: 16th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA2BUUVSPPR3SNYAA15HHKH1HM0
  • Story Text: During day four of the manslaughter trial against Conrad Murray, a paramedic who responded to the 911 call for Michael Jackson testified on Friday (September 30) that Murray told him the late singer had no underlying health condition.
    "I asked again what his underlying health condition was, he did not respond. And then he, I think it was the third time he said nothing, nothing, he has nothing and simply that did not add up to me," Richard Senneff, a witness for the prosecution, said.
    Senneff said Murray's answer did not satisfy him, adding that the scene did not seem "normal" because of Jackson's low body weight and an IV hooked up to him.
    The paramedic said he continued to question Murray, asking him if the patient was taking any medication as emergency responders worked on Jackson.
    "He said no, he is not taking anything, and then he followed that up with I just gave him a little bit of Lorazepam to sleep," Senneff said.
    Under questioning about the timeline of events, the paramedic testified that approximately five minutes had elapsed between when received the 911 call for help and when he arrived on the scene.
    The paramedic said, while on the scene, he asked Murray how soon he had placed the distress call.
    Senneff said Murray told him, "It just happened right when I called you." Senneff said he then thought there was enough time to revive the patient.
    During his testimony Friday morning, the paramedic said the medical team also had a EKG machine to monitor Jackson's heart. Senneff said he saw on the screen, "Flatline."
    Murray has denied he is guilty of the involuntary manslaughter of Jackson on June 25, 2009 but admits giving the 50-year-old pop star a dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol as a sleep aid. He faces a prison sentence of up to four years if convicted.
    The trial is expected to last four to six weeks.
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