Re: Murray Trial _ All daily trial Summaries - No discussion October 7th / Day 9 Full Testimony
Murray Trial Day 10 October 11, 2011
Morning Session
Detective Smith LAPD Testimony continued
Walgren Resumption Direct
They finish playing the Murray interview tape.
Smith states that the first time propofol was mentioned was in his interview with LAPD two days after MJ died, and that prior to that Murray had only mentioned he administered a sedative.
Smith states that he responded to UCLA and also attended the autopsy but that his knowledge was limited.
Smith states that very little of the questioning of Murray was limited, but that they allowed Murray to speak freely. Smith states that Murray did not mention the phone calls he placed or received on June 25, and was unaware of Sade Anding at that time.
Smith states that Murray was surprised by the fact that LAPD had not recovered Murray's medical bags at the time of the interview, dated June 27, 2009.
Smith states that on June 26, 2009, there were some business cards belonging to Conrad Murray and David J. Adams found in the Carolwood home. Smith states that the business cards were recovered from MJ's master bathroom by a LAPD detective. Smith states that also recovered were Latanoprost, a skin cream, and three vials of eye medication from the master bedroom, prescribed by Arnold Klein. Smith states that a large plastic bag with Applied Pharmacy on it, inside with benoquine to Dr. Murray was recovered the bathroom area of MJ's bedroom.
Smith states that there were a series of search warrants issued, the first being on June 29, 2009, to 100 North Carolwood Drive and the tow yard where Murray's BMW was. Smith states that a contract recovered from the pocket of the door, and a few business cards. Smith states no propofol bottles were recovered from the car.
Smith states the next search warrant issued on July 22, 2009 to Murray's cardiology practice and a storage unit in Houston, but that no propofol bottles were found.
Smith states that next search warrant issues on July 28, to Murray's Las Vegas office, home or storage unit were done, no propofol bottles found.
Smith states that the next search warrant was issued on August 11 to Applied Pharmacy at Las Vegas, owner Tim Lopez. Smith states that this is when LAPD discovered that propofol was being sent to an apartment in Santa Monica, CA belonging to Nicole Alvarez. Smith states that then a search warrant was issued for Alvarez Santa Monica home, on August 13, 2009. Smith states that there were no propofol bottles recovered from Alvarez' home.
Chernoff Cross Examination
Smith states that attempts had been made to contact Murray by the LAPD by phone, but that he did not personally make those calls, and that the detective who had made those calls, states that the calls went to voicemail.
Smith states he was aware that the press release for MJ's death was done by Jermaine Jackson, but not aware whether the press conference was actually done.
Smith states that he and Detective Orlando Martinez were initially assigned to MJ's death case, but that Detective Porsche was the original detective who tried to contact Conrad Murray.
Smith states that on June 27, 2009, the initial meeting between Murray and LAPD was set up for 2 pm, but it was rescheduled for 4 pm by LAPD.
Smith states the he spoke with Michael Amir, Faheem Muhammad, Alberto Alvarez, Larry Tolbert, Nanny Roslyn Muhammad, Kai Chase, MJ's family members, some housekeepers, Larry Muhammad had all spoken to LAPD on June 25, 2009. Smith states that Chernoff/Murray never made any limitations as to what he did not want to talk about or time limits, during the initial meeting with LAPD.
Smith states that he did meet with Michael Amir Williams on August 31, 2009 and that he vaguely remembers that Williams had to leave the room briefly at one point to speak to his attorney. Smith states that Murray did not leave the room, nor did he put time limitations on the interview with LAPD on 6/27/09.
Smith states that he had been with robbery/homicide for 1 and half years, before that he worked in another division for 10 years, 24 years as a police department, 14 in homicide. Smith states that he is an avid note taker, and that he took notes for various individuals and evidence collected regarding MJ' death, because he understands the importance of those notes. Smith states that he was in and out of the room while Elyssa Fleak was investigating on June 29, 2009. Smith states that while Fleak was removing items, he did not make notes about what she was removing them, but after that when all items had been laid out for display purposes for photographs.
Smith states that on June 29, 2009, he never mentioned that he never mentioned that a propofol bottle was found in an IV bag. Smith states that he was very specific with miligrams, lot numbers, etc., empty IV bags, empty pill bottles. Smith states that on June 29, in the search, he found Murray's medical bags exactly where Murray said they were.
Smith states that there were Lorazepam bottles found in the master bathroom of MJ's bedroom, but that he was not the person who found them. Smith states that the business cards were found in the vanity of the master bathroom, and that Detective Sanchez told him where they were found.
Smith states that he interviewed Dr. David Adams in Las Vegas.
Smith states that while he was at UCLA, he spoke to Alberto Alvarez. Smith states that Alvarez said he was called into the bedroom, and that Alvarez was told that MJ was having a bad reaction. Smith states that Alvarez never mentioned CPR, or that the propofol bottle was inside the IV bag was on August 31, 2009. Smith states that Faheem Muhammad made a statement on June 25, but that he said nothing about Murray wanting to go back to the Carolwood home on that date, nor did Michael Amir Williams until 8/31/09.
Smith states that there was another interview with Alberto Alvarez after August 31, 2009, and but he can't remember when. Smith states that he requested fingerprints from Alvarez, and he did turn them in, and they were analyzed.
Smith states that SID came in and downloaded surveillance video, that there were video cameras were not pointed toward the front door of the home door, but there was one on the front gate, on the keypad at the front gate, and one in the back of the house. Smith states that the video that was selected to download was made collectively, but Detective Martinez did the actual downloading. Smith states that they never requested any more video surveillance after June 25, 2009. Smith states that although the Carolwood home was locked and guards were there, that there were people allowed in the home for the 26th, 27th, 28th of June, 2009. Smith states that he does not know if a log had been kept regarding visitors at Carolwood after MJ died through June 29, 2009.
Smith states that he never talked to the new security at Carolwood to get a list of the people who had been in the house on the 27th, 28th, 29th. Smith states that marijuana was found by family members in MJ's closet in a suitcase.
Smith states that he asked upon leaving Carolwood if he the home would be sealed, he stated that he was told no.
Smith states that Conrad Murray told Detective Porsche that he would not sign a death certificate because an autopsy needed to be performed.
Smith states that he interviewed other doctors besides Dr. Adams and Dr. Murray.
Smith states that Murray gave him the keys to his car in order to search it.
Smith states that he did not go personally to search Murray's property in Houston. Smith states that in Las Vegas, Smith recovered Murray's cell phone from his home, computer hard drives from his office, paperwork involving his practice from his offices in Las Vegas.
Smith states that he can't recall if he interviewed a Patrick Muhammad was interviewed, Isaac Muhammad was interviewed, and a Derek Cleveland was interviewed by Smith, all of whom were security at Carolwood.
Smith states that MJ's death was deemed a homicide case on August 27, 2009. Smith states that there was some discussion and that the lieutenant from LAPD told Ed Winter from the coroner's office to stop looking into other doctors besides Murray.
Walgren Redirect
Smith states that a lieutenant from LAPD contacted Ed Winter, who had already contacted Arnold Klein, which caused some friction between the two. Smith states that the DEA was assigned to look into specific doctors ultimately and that LAPD was to focus on the homicide investigation.
Smith states that when Conrad Murray stated he gave MJ milk, Smith asked whether the milk was hot or cold. Smith stated he had no idea that milk meant propofol.
Smith states that only one IV bag was recovered on June 25, 2009. Smith states he was not present when the propofol bottle inside the IV bag was discovered, but was present when it was all laid out on a table.
Smith states regarding video cameras, first pointed at gate area on the outside of gates, second on an entrance underneath the residence but inoperative, third and fourth were on either side of the back side of the entrance facing pool and backyard, fifth pointed at right portion on exterior of house, one pointed facing at the inside of the gate. Smith states no camera showed any door entrances, primarily for exterior perimeter video surveillance.
Chernoff Recross
Smith states that when he found an empty Lorazepam bottle inside an empty IV bag, he starred it and underlined it, marking the lot number. Smith states that he did not note that the propofol bottle was inside an IV bag in his notes, as he did with the Lorazepam bottle.
Re-redirect Walgren
Smith again states he did not see the propofol bottle inside the IV bag, and that is why he did not document it.
Re-recross Chernoff
Smith states that the DEA was going to investigate Mickey Fine Pharmacy, and that Arnold Klein was linked to the pharmacy.
Dr. Christopher Rogers LA County Coroner's Office Testimony
Walgren Direct
Rogers states that he is a deputy medical examiner for LA county, and that he does autopsies to find cause of death, and that he has done this since 1988. Rogers' current position the Chief of Forensic Medicine.
Rogers states he has been present for several thousand autopsies over his career. Rogers states that he did the autopsy report for Michael Jackson on June 26, 2009. On that specific day, Rogers states he was not able to specify a cause of death, there was nothing anatomically obvious to state cause of death.
Rogers states that MJ was healthier than the average person of his age. Rogers states that there were incidental findings, that MJ had an enlargement of the prostate gland which meant that it was difficult to urinate so he was retaining urine, he had vitiligo, and he also had a polyp in the colon. Rogers states that the nervous system showed mild diffuse swelling, lung exam showed chronic inflammation and scarring, radiology showed an extra rib and also some arthritis. The dental examination showed root canals and implants were done. Rogers states that an anesthesiology consultation was also done.
Rogers states that a previous scalp injury caused an area of pigmentation at the top of the scalp which was scarred, Rogers was aware of the scalp injury. Rogers states that MJ was 5'9" and that he weighed 136 pounds, BMI index was within the normal range, however a thin individual.
MJ's autopsy photo is shown in court. Rogers states that is, indeed Michael Jackson. Rogers states that also the autopsy photo shows 8-25-09, the date is incorrect.
Rogers states that MJ did not have heart disease and no abnormalities were detected in the heart. Rogers states that coronary arteries were clear, and that almost everybody has some athrosclerosis in their coronary arteries, but that MJ had none, meaning no fat or cholesterol in MJ's arteries.
Rogers states that initially he felt there was no natural disease that caused his death. Rogers states that MJ's esophagus was intact, and that there was no white, milky substance in the esophagus.
Rogers states that the stomach content was examined, and that Rogers found 70 grams of drug fluid but did not show pills or capsules. Rogers states that he looked for that specifically to determine cause of death.
Rogers states that he checked the mouth and upper airway (meaning the entrance to the breathing passages, mouth down the throat into the windpipe or trachea) and found no foreign material.
Rogers states that he requested toxicology reports to assist him to report cause of death. Rogers states that he sought out other doctors in specialties to help him with cause of death. Rogers states he read Conrad Murray's interview with LAPD to help him and asked for medical records from Murray, but was never able to obtain any records from Murray.
Rogers states that he was at some point, able to determine cause of death, and the manner was homicide. Rogers states that he based his homicide report on 1) Murray's statement to the police he administered the propofol and benzodiazepines 2) it's not appropriate to give propofol for insomnia, that the risk outweighs the benefit, and in addition, the setting in the home did not provide for the use of an EKG monitor, a precision dosing monitor, equipment available to revive MJ adequately, not an endotracheal tube, no meds to improve circulatory function and 3) and that the circumstances do not support self-administration of propofol, because Murray stated that he only gave MJ 25 mgs, went to the bathroom, returned from the bathroom to find MJ not breathing. Rogers states that you would have to assume that even though MJ was under the influence under the influence of propofol and other sedatives, injects himself with propofol, seems less reasonable than Murray giving MJ propofol from time to time.
Rogers states that since they did not find a precision dosing device, and that he feels that it would be easy for the doctor to give too much propofol, rather than MJ self injecting propofol himself.
Rogers states that the cause of death was acute propofol intoxication, and the contributing condition was the benzodiazepine effect. Rogers states that Lorazepam and Midazolam, both sedatives were a smaller contribution to MJ's death, and could exacerbate respiratory depression, causing someone to stop breathing. Rogers states that it could have also stopped the heart from beating.
Rogers states that a diagram was made of MJ's body during the autopsy, noting various IV puncture marks during revival efforts. Rogers states that on MJ's right arm, left arm, neck, just below the left knee (where Murray had administered the IV, not revival puncture mark). Rogers states that he observed the empty propofol bottle that was found in MJ's bedroom, noting that it was unusual as the stopper had a center which had a linear opening, showing that it did not show any needle punctures. Rogers states that the linear opening is an opening from side to side in the center of the rubber stopper of the empty bottle of propofol, indicating it was not made by a syringe needle. Rogers states that the linear opening could have been made by a spike.