Conrad Murray Trial: Jury Ends First Day Of Deliberations Without Reaching Verdict

LOS ANGELES — Jurors considering the case against Michael Jackson's doctor ended their first day of deliberations Friday without reaching a verdict or asking any questions indicating how far along they have gotten in their discussions.

The seven-man, five-woman panel was given highlighters and blank forms to request evidence after starting deliberations around 8:30 a.m.

They recessed around 4 p.m. and were set to resume discussions Monday.

The jury must reach a unanimous verdict to either convict or acquit Dr. Conrad Murray of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's June 2009 death.

Jackson died from a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol; Murray has acknowledged giving Jackson propofol to help him sleep.

The jury is not sequestered and will deliberate during the court's regular hours. A verdict will be read the same day it is reached.

During closing arguments of the six-week trial, attorneys for the Houston-based cardiologist attacked prosecutors and their witnesses, saying they had over time developed stories and theories that placed the blame for Jackson's death squarely on Murray.

Prosecutors countered that Murray was an opportunistic and inept doctor who left Jackson's three children without a father. They said that Murray giving Jackson propofol as a sleep aid violated standards of care and amounted to a secret experiment in which the doctor kept no records.

Media were stationed Friday outside the courthouse and in the courtroom where the jury's decision will eventually be read.

Attorneys handling the case will receive a two-hour notice when a verdict is reached. Murray waived the need for his presence if the panel asks any questions, but he must be present when a verdict is announced.

Jurors heard from 49 witnesses and have more than 300 pieces of evidence to consider. They were given lengthy instructions by the judge about how to deliberate.

If Murray is convicted, he faces a sentence ranging from probation to four years behind bars, and he would lose his medical license. The sentence will be decided by Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor after receiving input from attorneys for both sides and probation officials, if necessary.

A recent change in California law means that Murray, 58, might serve any possible incarceration in a county jail rather than a state prison. A prison term could be shortened by overcrowding.

If acquitted, Murray could still be pursued by medical licensing authorities in the states of California, Nevada and Texas.

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AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report.

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McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP

Comments

[hotbarb2614]

10:45 AM on 11/07/2011

The one thing everybody has missed in this trial is, Murry"s account of what he gave him, I think he gave him more than he addmitted to,he was lying about the amount he gave him.if there wasn't a drip Michael would have been awake instantly.

[Michael Ludin]

11:00 AM on 11/06/2011

There is a shared responsibility here. Michael, his family and the doctor all share responsibility in his death. I believe that will be accounted for in the Civil Trials that are coming. For this specific criminal trial there is no doubt that Murray was criminally negligent on so many levels, and that negligence was a direct causal set of circumstances that caused the death.

[sassiestkat]

10:00 PM on 11/05/2011

There is a reason why anesthesiologist go thru more training than a regular doctor and there's a very good reason why this is a specialty area of medicine. Sedating drugs are no joke and you don't have to be a doctor nor work for NASA to know that.

[sassiestkat]

09:58 PM on 11/05/2011

I must have missed the part of the Hippocratic Oath that states "A patient in your care is responsible for the drugs you administer and the amounts you administer them in and the lack of supervision you give them during the aforementioned."

[sassiestkat]

09:29 PM on 11/05/2011

What is the confusion here? This case is one of few that is cut and dry. Regardless of Michael's addiction, his pressuring for medications/drugs, his ability to obtain them elsewhere, etc. etc. etc., this so-called "doctor", Conrad Murray, brought the drug into the home, administered it, and apparently left the drug and the patient unattended. Murray knowingly administered and kept within reach a very, very dangerous drug. The onus of burden is on him. Where is the confusion here?

[Awatcher]

01:26 PM on 11/06/2011

well said, GMTA ! Furthermore, Murray knew exactly what he was doing was wrong, evident by:
1. He lied as to where the medication was being ship to ( his girlfriends house )
2. His statement to the police was full of inconsistencies in the time line.
3 His failure to keep medical records. ( silly man must of thought "if it isn't written it wasn't done" would cover him )
4. His delay in calling 911
5. His focus on cleaning up in the middle of this emergency.
6.His lies to other professional as to what he had administered

[unique]

08:31 PM on 11/05/2011

Dr. Murry took the job with Michael Jackson because
he needed the money. Seems like his prayers were answered.
Now, for Dr. Murray it is his worst nightmare.

[carbinos]

07:36 PM on 11/05/2011

MJ was hooked up to a IV in his home ? Hmm what was he thinking.
I am thinking NOT GUILTY

[Nellbaby]

03:57 PM on 11/05/2011

He should receive the same sentence as Anna Nicole Smith's doctors did.

[hidenout3]

10:58 AM on 11/06/2011

So justice denied in one case means no justice for anyone?

Nice logic.

[dave ochs]

03:33 PM on 11/05/2011

jail the people who hired Dr. Murray to give Jax whatever he wanted.
dave

[addy7574]

03:23 PM on 11/05/2011

Michael Jackson may have been addicted at first to the drugs but eventually became dependent which is totally different. He was tolerance withdrawl to the benzo's and the propofol which is a short acting barbiuate. No wonder he could not sleep. I cold turkeyed off of a benzo after being on it for 8 years and it was horrific. No sleep for 4 months until I was reinstated. These experts ought to know about tolerance withdrawl.

[Kat Ingalls]

09:08 AM on 11/06/2011

dependent and addicted are the same thing.

[flyingfortresb17]

03:20 PM on 11/05/2011

THE jury has a lot of information to digest and get down to the hard thought of a guilty verdict. Anyone who thought they would come back in just a couple of hours should be ashamed of themselves. If they really understand that certain medications should never be used outside a hospital without the incumbent safety equipment on hand, then they will reach the right verdict. Micheal Jackson was an addict of the first order and had not only the money but the name power to get what he wanted. When the Jury delivers the verdict, they should also find that part of the responsibility runs with Micheal Jackson as well as the doctor.

[sassiestkat]

09:53 PM on 11/05/2011

You have more faith in a 'jury of peers' than I do. When a doctor willingly and willfully provides a drug to a patient they know they shouldn't. The doctor in a patient/doctor scenario is akin to a teacher in a student/teacher connection. The onus of burden to instruct and guide is on the doctor/teacher, not the patient/student. If you press your doctor for drug 'x' and they finally give in for whatever reason, even knowing the dangers of that drug in general, much less to you in your given situation, how can you at all be held responsible?

Addiction is something a doctor is supposed to understand, help with, and prevent a continuation of at all costs. An addict rarely intends to become an addict but once they do, so much is out of their control. My heart goes out to addicts and the families that have to deal with them. It is no doubt, a difficult situation. Murray is held to a higher standard than you, me, Michael, or Michael's family. Not to mention, once Murray started him on propofol, he created an even nastier beast and Dr. Murray (hell, anyone with a lick of common sense) would have known this. He was knowingly feeding the beast. I cannot reconcile that with any excuse.

[flyingfortresb17]

12:48 AM on 11/06/2011

He knowingly feed the beast but Dr. Murray is not the one who started Jackson on Propofol. It started long before Dr. Murray. Even Jackson's brothers and sisters knew of his addiction and tried to stop him to no avail. I fault Dr. Murray no less than Jackson himself. Dr. Murray is guilty the same was Dr. Kevorkian was in aiding suicide.

[AkaFidelis]

02:43 PM on 11/05/2011

Michael had already received Valium, Ativan and Versed from Murray. These are all minor tranquilizers, re-marketed as anti-anxiety drugs. In combination, these are very potent, even in someone with tolerance. Good judgement would have led Murray to deny more sedative to his patient.

[thetxsndn]

02:26 PM on 11/05/2011

I am still not clear on how they could call it "involuntary" manslaughter. The man is a doctor & knows that he was using propofol is for hospital environment only. He also knew what other drugs were being taken.

[flyingfortresb17]

03:22 PM on 11/05/2011

They call it involuntary murder because he didn't mean to cause the death of another. It is just the same when they called it DWI Manslaughter when a person drives drunk and kills another person. The sentences are about the same. Generally probation or less than 10 years in jail.

[thetxsndn]

12:42 PM on 11/06/2011

I do understand that. It still doesn't make it OK that the doctor KNEW he was using the drugs in a criminal manner.

[njoytday]

10:13 PM on 11/06/2011

It was a slow murder because he gave it, openly and in full sight of nurses and many others, for two months before it killed him. That is what lulled both MJ and Conrad Murray that it was safe. Yea it is safer for one time in the hospital but not long time use in a bedroom. Anaesthesis is never safe it is a risk we have to take to have some surgery done.
The underlying reasons for MJ insomnia were never treated sadly. He should not have been scheduled to do concerts until he could sleep normally.
I think the fact that this doctor did not have a history of malpractice suits or being callous shows it was involuntary and he used terrible judgement. He had only one patient and was in debt which makes it easier to convict becuase it makes it appear he was greedy so was willing to do this knowing it was not meeting standards. He had all his eggs in one basket, and eggs break easily.
I think it strated out with good intentions to help MJ but ended with a diregard for his welfare.

[amd2857]

01:51 PM on 11/05/2011

All i can say Mj Rip. You are out of pain and in the Lords hands. I bet you are a good entertainer with much love. Watch over your children and guide them through life. You were a good Daddy and they love you and miss you very much. I pray for them as well as your soul.

[Jack Hawksmoor]

01:46 PM on 11/05/2011

Hate to say it, but Jackson got exactly what he paid for. He hired this dude because he was a crappy doctor that could be easily manipulated into prescribing him drugs that no other doctor would give him.

Facts are, the entire family turned their heads at whatever their meal ticket was doing at the moment and are now pretending that it was the death of their family member was the result of one man.

[dave ochs]

03:34 PM on 11/05/2011

jack-exactly whats wrong with other morons posting?
dave

[Awatcher]

01:36 PM on 11/06/2011

No I don't think MJ would have hired him if he thought he was a crappy Doctor. The amount of money he was being paid says this. I do however feel that MJ and those who contracted Murray thought he would be able to administer these drugs BUT safely. Murray just got cocky, sloppy and reckless, took it for granted that nothing bad would or could happen. Silly man he was, he killed his employer. At the end of the day Murray is in this position now because he was the one who said YES I will take the job.

[dave ochs]

02:33 PM on 11/06/2011

you long before the Jacksons hired Murray, they were pushing him to tour and after marathon rehersals he'd lose a lot weight and become deheydrated and pass out and require hospitialization, the greed of the Jacksons caused michaels death and now to blame the Dr. is a travesty, i'm sorry your so stupid you can't realize that.
dave