The film This Is It unintentionally chronicles the troubled final days of Michael Jackson’s existence. Whether it is appropriate for family viewing is debatable, but it definitely should have been classified as horror.
Viewers witnessed the fallen King of Pop rehearsing for 50 comeback concerts at London’s O2 Arena. However, as the first performance loomed closer, it became apparent that he was aware of the impending catastrophe; his anguish was heart-wrenching to observe.
He struggled to recall the lyrics to his chart-topping songs, let alone perform them clearly, and his stiff dance moves mocked the brilliance of the innovative artist who had introduced the moonwalk to the world.
At one point, he bizarrely remarked, “It’s like I’ve got this giant fist in my ear,” attempting to express the frustration that led him to halt his rehearsal for the umpteenth time.
Certainly, to those in Jackson’s sycophantic inner circle—his producers, advisors, lawyers, and doctors— it must have been painfully obvious that the gaunt 50-year-old was both mentally and physically unwell, being pushed well beyond his limits.
Yet, with their own careers and vast sums of money at risk, they continued to press him relentlessly.
Observing this unfolding disaster last weekend, it becomes clear why, 18 months after Jackson’s passing, there is still a strong public demand for accountability in a criminal court.
But the question remains: who is to blame?
Since Jackson’s death was confirmed at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles at 2:26 PM on June 25, 2009, many have pointed fingers in various directions. Several family members have even alleged that he was murdered.
As the investigation unfolded, it became evident that Steve Cooley, the longtime LA District Attorney overseeing the case, had zeroed in on one individual: Jackson’s personal physician, 57-year-old Conrad Murray.
Raids were conducted on Murray’s homes and clinics located in Las Vegas, Houston, and LA, resulting in the seizure of computers and documents.
When Murray’s 27-year-old girlfriend, former nightclub dancer Nicole Alvarez, 
refused to cooperate with the investigation, she was compelled to testify before a grand jury.
Eventually, in February, the Grenadian-born cardiologist, who had only been hired six weeks prior to Jackson’s demise and received nearly $200,000 monthly to keep the singer healthy, faced charges of involuntary manslaughter.
The prosecution contends that he sought to address Jackson’s insomnia by administering a fatal dose of propofol, a potent anesthetic typically reserved for surgical procedures. If found guilty, he could serve up to four years in prison.
Murray’s trial is set to begin on Tuesday, with a two-week preliminary hearing aimed at determining whether there is adequate evidence of “unlawful killing without malice” to present to a jury.
Nevertheless, the first legal skirmish of what is being heralded as the most significant celebrity trial since O.J. Simpson’s case occurred this week, revealing a sensational element of Murray’s defense strategy.
During a pre-trial disagreement between the prosecution and defense regarding the analysis of two syringes discovered in Jackson’s bedroom, LA Deputy District Attorney David Walgren asserted that Murray’s lawyers would attempt to argue that the pop star committed suicide.
“I do think it’s clear the defense is operating under the theory that the victim, Michael Jackson, killed himself,” he stated.
Just hours before his death, Jackson had summoned Murray to his rented mansion, expressing his inability to sleep. The doctor then spent several hours in private with him.
Shortly after, during interviews with detectives…Following Jackson’s passing, reports suggest that Murray confessed to administering sedatives along with a small amount of propofol via an IV drip.
In his testimony, however, Murray is anticipated to assert that he stepped out of the room for a brief two minutes to visit the bathroom, during which Jackson supposedly awakened from his restless sleep and self-administered a significant, lethal dose of the anesthetic.
Was it truly a suicide?
Certainly, he was in a state of extreme depression, and there were valid reasons for it. Beyond his struggles with drug addiction and mental health issues, he was encumbered by approximately $500 million in debt, and his once illustrious career had been marred by a series of child molestation allegations.
On top of that, he was under tremendous pressure to recapture his past glory, performing night after night for the upcoming concerts that could either redeem or further tarnish his reputation.
However, the defense’s theory appears rather implausible, as pointed out by Brian Oxman, the longtime lawyer for the Jackson family.
“The science doesn’t support it,” he stated.
“Michael frequently lamented the burning sensation caused by propofol. He would have been in excruciating pain before he could have injected himself with a significant quantity of the drug.”
He continued, “Yet, we’re being told by Murray that Michael managed to inject himself with a whole 125cc from the syringe, a quantity five times greater than what Murray claimed he administered.
“Moreover, propofol acts within ten to 15 seconds. After injecting 25cc, around 15 seconds would have passed, and by that point, he would have already been unconscious. It simply doesn’t add up.”
Indeed, it doesn’t, and if Murray were facing a trial in the court of public opinion in the U.S., he would undoubtedly be convicted.
Despite efforts to depict him as an exemplar of medical ethics (his lawyer, Ed Chernoff, even published the names and phone numbers of appreciative patients on his website for media reference), in several respects, the doctor fits the role of the scapegoat perfectly.
A negligent father of seven from various relationships, he has been pursued legally for overdue child support along with numerous other debts for years, and his medical practice has been teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.
His fortunes shifted in 2006 when he was asked to treat one of Jackson’s children for a minor issue, impressing the singer and forming a friendship.
When Jackson offered him an astonishing salary to leave his clinics and join his team for the London concerts, he found it an easy choice—especially since he was deep in debt, owing creditors over $500,000.
One must question his judgment regarding the regular combinations of narcotics he provided Jackson, especially when it was manifestly clear from the frail, pockmarked individual before him that he was managing a chronic drug addict.
Despite all of this, one cannot help but ponder why he alone will be in the courtroom next week.
According to Jackson’s own statements, his dependency on drugs began in 1984, after an incident on the set of a Pepsi commercial resulted in his hair catching fire.
As noted by his biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli, over the years, he must have encountered many individuals like Dr. Murray, all too eager to enable his addiction.
Additionally, in his last few months, Jackson had been ‘cared for’ by at least six other physicians, none of whom appear likely to face any charges. The same applies to the complicit pharmacists who filled prescriptions submitted by Jackson’s associates, many of which were written to patently fictitious patients.
Moreover, there’s AEG, the production company poised to profit over £75 million from the O2 Arena concerts. Shouldn’t they also be held accountable for imposing such immense pressure on a performer?who was obviously unfit?
Brian Oxman, representing Jackson’s father Joe in a distinct civil lawsuit that claims the doctor is liable for his son’s ‘wrongful death’, certainly does not defend Dr. Murray.
Nevertheless, even the attorney for the Jackson family is frustrated that the doctor is being made to shoulder the blame.
‘The AEG group and those who hired Conrad Murray must also bear responsibility,’ he stated.
‘They were fully aware of his actions and compensated him for it.
‘They claim they were uninvolved, but if I were to employ a doctor to administer drugs to someone, and that individual dies, I’d anticipate being held accountable since I’m the one covering the costs.
‘As if they were unaware!
‘It’s tragic. He was practically under the influence of drugs to maintain his performance. He was given this medication due to his pain complaints, and the very people responsible spread the music, proclaiming he was in excellent health (just before his demise).
‘However, the autopsy revealed he was battling pneumonia, brain swelling, chronic bronchitis, and anemia. Ah yes, he was in great shape. If your brain is swelling, you should be in a hospital, not performing on stage.
‘Look at the images from the film (This Is It); the dancers behind Michael are mostly in their 20s and half-dressed. Yet Michael is dressed in three shirts and a heavy jacket. He must have been freezing. Who are they trying to deceive?
‘Conrad Murray will expose this. He will assert that Michael Jackson was not well, and he had informed him of his poor condition.’
Should Murray face trial, his attorney is anticipated to convey a similar narrative.
‘Conrad attended numerous rehearsals for This Is It, and he states that Michael never completed a single song,’ according to a source from the defense team.
‘Michael was reluctant to perform, but felt he had to, often expressing: “If I don’t get any sleep, I won’t be able to rehearse, and if I can’t rehearse, I can’t perform the concerts.”
‘He was a sick 50-year-old man, yet they expected him to dance as if he were 20.
Can you fathom the pressure!’
Many observers would concur. However, if that sentiment holds true, why hasn’t anyone else been charged?
The Reverend Floyd Williams, a Houston pastor and confidant of Murray who has a long history in the civil rights movement, suggests there might be a racial dynamic to the case.
‘Why would they indict the only black doctor who treated Michael Jackson?’ he questions rhetorically. ‘It can’t just be a coincidence that all of his other doctors were white, and they won’t face trial.’
On the other hand, Miranda Sevcik, who manages public relations for Murray’s prominent attorney, claims that the LA authorities pursued the doctor ‘solely because Michael Jackson’s name was tied to the case’.
She notes that the extensive 18-month investigation was costly, particularly at a time when California was reducing its workforce and facing financial constraints, leading them to feel obligated to charge someone…and Dr. Murray became the most accessible target.
That may be the case, but the predominant interpretation suggests a possible political motivation, orchestrated by governor-elect Jerry Brown, a long-time advocate against prescription drug misuse.
While serving as California’s attorney general, Brown implemented a supposedly unique data-tracking system designed to monitor every doctor prescribing medications, including the prescription details, the patients, quantities, and dates.
This system was employed in the inquiry into the death of Anna Nicole Smith, a model who suffered a fatal accidental overdose in 2007.
Consequently, her boyfriend and psychiatrist were convicted last October for their conspiracy to obtain drugs for her.
The verdict ignited panic in Hollywood, and rightly so. For years, the industry’s icons have enlisted ‘compliant quacks’ to provide them with the illicit substances that govern nearly…every facet of their existence, encompassing their shape, size, and mental state.
However, Brown, whose tough persona significantly contributed to his reelection as governor last autumn, is on a mission, and the era of on-demand access to such drugs may soon be coming to an end.
Should Michael Jackson’s doctor be found guilty, it would greatly benefit his campaign, as the prosecution is committed to securing a conviction.
Typically, preliminary hearings are quick and uneventful, but there are plans to summon approximately 35 witnesses, a procedure that is expected to last a minimum of two weeks.
Among the key witnesses will be Alberto Alvarez, the bodyguard who rushed to Jackson’s side after Murray reached out to security and, with remarkable composure, informed the paramedics.
Even by Hollywood’s standards, this trial is anticipated to be quite the spectacle, with every gripping moment broadcast live on television.
Consequently, Conrad Murray will navigate a daily influx of irate Jackson supporters as he enters the downtown Superior Court.
Yet, when the most renowned pop star in the world passes away in a way that reveals the grim realities of Tinsel Town, it appears that someone…anyone…must bear the consequences.
by Wallace McTavish
