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Michael Jackson Doctor: Texting, Time of Death Testimony
Testimony logged Thursday in a preliminary hearing regarding Conrad Murray, pop icon Michael Jackson's personal physician, brought to light details about the doctor's text messaging and the singer's time of death. Yesterday was day three of the courtroom session being held to determine if there is adequate evidence to put Murray on trial for involuntary manslaughter.
On the stand "Dr. Richelle Cooper said Jackson was dead long before he was wheeled into the emergency room at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center," according to KTLA. "Cooper testified she authorized paramedics to pronounce Jackson dead at 12:57 p.m., but they declined at Murray's request and because of the singer's celebrity."
Phone evidence presented in court yesterday showed "Murray was talking on the phone and texting during the period authorities say he should have been closely monitoring Michael Jackson's vital signs," reports the LA Times.
What continues to be a central focal point of the hearing is what drugs were administered to Jackson and when. A paramedic testified he witnessed Murray "scoop up three bottles of lidocaine from the floor and place the vials in a bag," as he and his team worked on the pop star. Much of Murray's medication regimen is unknown to outsiders, as only he and Jackson's kids were permitted in the singer's room; Murray is accused of delivering a fatal dose of the drug propofol to Jackson.
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