LOS ANGELES, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The defence in the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor takes centre stage next week with a major question still to be answered: will Dr. Conrad Murray take the witness stand?
After three weeks of often damaging evidence against the doctor accused of involuntary manslaughter in the singer's death, legal experts say Murray's version of events is riddled with inconsistencies.
And lead prosecutor David Walgren on Friday complained to the trial judge that his team was “dealing with an ever-changing defence.” Testifying comes with risks if Murray is unclear in telling jurors why he failed to have proper equipment on hand when Jackson died, and why he failed to disclose his use of the drug that ultimately caused Jackson's death.
“If I was defending, I would not put Murray on the witness stand. I think he would just get hammered,” Beverly Hills defence attorney Mark McBride told Reuters.
Jackson died at age 50 of an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol and a cocktail of sedatives on June 25, 2009.
Prosecutors must convince the jury that Murray was so negligent in his care of the “Thriller” singer that it led to his death, just as he prepared for a series of London concerts. |
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