Character witnesses praise Michael Jackson's embattled personal physician
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Xinhua, October 27, 2011
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Dr. Conrad Murray sits in court during his trial in the death of pop star Michael Jackson, in Los Angeles October 13, 2011. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
Michael Jackson's personal physician Conrad Murray was visibly moved to tears as a string of character witnesses took the stand Wednesday, portraying him as a caring and thoughtful doctor who "is not getting a fair shake."
Five witnesses, who had previously received care from Murray when he was practicing medicine in Texas and Nevada, told the seven-man, five-woman jury that Murray used to spend hours in talking to his patients, called them at home on weekends and offered his services for free to those who couldn't afford it, long before he received 150,000 U.S. dollars a month to care for Jackson.
Andrew Guest, a locksmith from Las Vegas, said he owed his life to the cardiologist.
"That man sitting there is the best doctor I've ever seen," he said, referring to Murray who sat across the courtroom from him. He also believed that the doctor "is not getting a fair shake." The 48-year-old man had received stents from Murray after he suffered heart problems in April 2002.
Murray, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter stemming from Jackson's June 25, 2009 death, was visibly emotional and wiped tears from his reddened eyes. He even cried at several points during the testimony which was delivered at the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Lunette Sampson, a former Las Vegas resident who suffered from a heart problem, became a patient of Murray's. "I have never had a doctor that was more caring, never ... He is a very thorough doctor ...," she said.
Another patient, Gerry Causey, even called Murray his "best friend." He shook Murray's hand, kissed him on the forehead as he left the stand.
Dennis Hix said Murray had provided treatment to him free of charge when he couldn't afford to pay. "I'm 66, gone to a lot of doctors ... I've never had one who gave me the care he did," Hix said.
"I had the type of insurance that didn't hardly pay for anything," the former Las Vegas resident said, noting that Murray still treated him.
The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office ruled that the superstar died from acute Propofol intoxication when he was rehearsing for his sold-out series of 50 concerts dubbed "This Is It."
Prosecutors seek to prove Murray, 58, had failed to properly monitor Jackson after giving him a lethal dose of Propofol. They contended that the cardiologist "repeatedly acted with gross negligence, repeatedly denied appropriate care to his patient, Michael Jackson, and that it was Dr. Murray's repeated incompetence and unskilled acts that led to Mr. Jackson's death on June 25, 2009."
Defense attorneys argued Murray was weaning Jackson off the medication. The cardiologist was hired by Jackson to care for him two months before his death.
Murray, who is set free on a bail of 75,000 U.S. dollars, faces up to four years in prison and the loss of his medical license if convicted of the felony charge.
