LOS ANGELES, Nov 5, (AFP) - The jury in the manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray failed on Friday to reach a verdict on its first day of deliberations, and will reconvene next week.
The seven men and five women went home and will resume their reflections on Monday on whether the 58-year-old medic is guilty of involuntary manslaughter over the star's June 25, 2009 death.
Jackson fans had hoped for a quick verdict in the case after what the prosecution claims was an overwhelming case against Murray, while the late star's sister La Toya said she hoped the jury will “do the right thing.”But after some seven hours of deliberations, barring a break for lunch, they had not reached a decision on the sole charge Murray faces at the trial, which began six weeks ago.
“The jury has concluded deliberations for today and will resume on Monday, Nov. 7, at approximately 8:30 am” (1630 GMT), said a court statement.
Murray faces up to four years in jail if convicted over Jackson's death from an overdose of propofol, given to help him sleep at his home in Los Angeles where he was rehearsing a series of comeback shows in London.
The jury began considering its verdict after a day of drama Thursday, when prosecution and defence lawyers presented their closing arguments at the trial, which began on September 27.
In a powerful summary, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said the 58-year-old medic caused the star's death through negligence and greed, depriving Jackson's children of their father and the world of a “genius.”Walgren, summing up an “overwhelming case” against Murray, claimed the medic invented lies to cover his tracks -- namely about the timeline on the day Jackson died, or not telling paramedics what drugs he had given.Murray above all wanted to protect his $150,000 a month salary for looking after Jackson, Walgren said, describing how the doctor agreed to treat the star's insomnia with the anesthetic propofol against all medical advice.
“Conrad Murray in multiple instances deceived, lied, obscured, but more importantly, Conrad Murray acted with criminal negligence,” the prosecutor told the jury.
Defence attorney Ed Chernoff then took the floor to claim that Murray was “a little fish in a big dirty pond,” alleging that key witnesses conspired to agree on a story after Jackson died.The defence has argued that Jackson was a desperate drug addict who caused his own death by taking more medicines while Murray was out of the room at the star's rented mansion in Los Angeles. |
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