MICHAEL Jackson's head of security testified that two of the singer's children watched as his physician Conrad Murray tried to revive the star when he stopped breathing in the bedroom of his Los Angeles mansion.
Bodyguard Faheem Muhammad was summoned to the witness stand at Tuesday's (local time) preliminary hearing at the Los Angeles County Superior Court to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to try Murray for involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death.
Muhammad said Jackson's children Prince and Paris were near the entrance of the bedroom of the rented Holmby Hills house as their father's life began to slip away after taking a powerful cocktail of sedatives, including Propofol.
The singer's daughter, Paris, was on "the ground on her hands and knees and she was crying," Muhammad recalled.
He said he and another guard looked at each other in disbelief when Murray asked if anyone in the room knew CPR.
Deputy District Attorney David Walgren also told the court how Murray tried to conceal the fact he had administered Propofol to Jackson by waiting up to 21 minutes before calling 911 and hiding evidence of his medical treatment.
Walgren said based on phone records and witness accounts Murray left a frantic message on the cellphone of Jackson's personal assistant, Michael Amir Williams, before calling paramedics.
Williams testified that the physician told him that Jackson "had a bad reaction" and that he should "get someone" to the house immediately.
Williams sent Muhammad to the bedroom where the guard said he saw the singer sprawled out on the floor next to his bed with his eyes and mouth open as Murray knelt over him.
The personal assistant said that Murray then tried to hide evidence the star had taken the sedatives by asking another security guard, Alberto Alvarez, to help him collect pill bottles and medical paraphernalia in a bag.
Walgren said when paramedics arrived Murrary did not mention Jackson had taken Propofol and instead told them that the performer was "exhausted from rehearsals."
Murray again failed to mention he had administered the anesthetic when doctors at the emergency room of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center questioned him, Walgren said.
Muhammad said after Jackson had been pronounced dead at the center, Murray told him he was hungry and left to get something to eat.
Renowned choreographer Kenny Ortega, producer and director of the Jackson concert film "This Is It," also testified at the hearing.
He said the singer showed up for a rehearsal at Staples Center six days before his death looking too weak to perform for his planned comeback concerts.
Ortega said the next day he met at Jackson's mansion with the singer, his manager, the concert promoter and Murray who insisted the star was emotionally and physically strong enough to perform.
The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office ruled in August 2009 that Jackson died on June 25, 2009 of acute Propofol intoxication.
Propofol is used in hospitals to sedate and anesthetize patients. It is not approved for home use or to treat sleep disorders.
California authorities ruled Jackson's death a homicide by the mixture of drugs in his body and Murray was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Murray, who faces up to four years in prison if convicted, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Murray has admitted he gave Jackson sedatives. However the doctor's attorney claimed in court documents that when Murray was out of the room Jackson woke up and gave himself more, TMZ reported.
His attorney, Ed Chernoff, declined to make an opening statement at Tuesday's preliminary hearing which is expected to last up to eight days as prosecutors plan to call as many as 30 witnesses.
Some court experts say the evidence against Murray could be so overwhelming he may agree to a plea bargain and some prison time less than five years.
Source http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/jacksons-kids-watched-father-slip-away/story-e6frf7jx-1225982562297
