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Conrad MurrayAmerican physician, cardiologist, personal physician to Michael Jackson
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Biography of Conrad Murray
Conrad Murray, an American physician and cardiologist, gained notoriety as the personal physician of the legendary singer Michael Jackson and became the main defendant in the case surrounding Jackson's death. Murray was born in 1953 in Grenada, and he spent a significant part of his life in Trinidad and Tobago before moving to the United States in the 1960s. In 1989, he enrolled in medical college in Nashville, Tennessee, but did not obtain an American Board license.
After working for some time as the head of his own company, which eventually went bankrupt in 1992, Murray began working with Jackson in May 2009. He was recommended to Jackson by agents from 'AEG Live' - a company involved in Jackson's London concerts. The exact date of their first meeting is unknown, with some sources claiming Murray had treated Jackson for a common cold in 2008 in Las Vegas, while others state that Murray had worked with Jackson's children as early as 2006. Nonetheless, it was Jackson who requested that Murray accompany him during his trip to London, with an intended monthly payment of $150,000, although a formal contract was never completed.
Murray gained significant public attention, albeit against his will, after Jackson's death. The pop icon passed away from a heart attack at his home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California, on June 25, 2009. Murray claimed to have found Jackson in one of the rooms, not breathing, but still having a weak pulse. Despite the efforts of local medical center doctors, they were unable to save Jackson. Initially, it was believed that the cause of death was due to painkillers, but the police became interested in the medications Jackson had been taking for insomnia, particularly propofol. This anesthetic had previously caused heart attacks, and its administration should only be done under the supervision of experienced medical professionals.
Murray spoke to the police immediately after Jackson's death, and two days later, he was summoned for a more extensive interrogation. On June 26, Murray's car was seized, as it was suspected to contain illicit drugs. However, the vehicle was returned to him five days later. On June 30, Cherilyn Lee, Jackson's personal nutritionist, claimed that Jackson had asked her for a dose of propofol in May. Lee refused, despite Jackson's assurances about the safety of the medication. Jackson had previously complained to Lee about his extremely poor health, even prompting her to suggest a visit to the hospital. Jesse Jackson, a prominent African-American civil rights activist and a close friend of the Jackson family, revealed that Murray had been a cause of concern for Michael's relatives. During the police investigation, it became evident that these concerns had a basis. On June 22, police searched Murray's office, confiscating a computer, two hard drives, and various work documents. Anonymous sources later informed the press that Murray had issued a prescription for propofol one day before Jackson's death. Murray's lawyers refused to comment on these "baseless rumors," but the doctor's residence was searched the following day. Gradually, Murray became the main suspect in Jackson's death investigation.
On August 28, 2009, the county coroner announced that Jackson had been killed by a specific combination of medications, including propofol, lorazepam, and midazolam. Once again, the attention of the detectives focused on Jackson's personal physician. On February 8, 2010, Murray declared his innocence in involuntary manslaughter and was released on bail after paying $75,000. Soon after, the California Medical Board revoked Murray's ability to prescribe strong sedative drugs. A preliminary hearing for Murray's case was scheduled for January 4, 2011. The hearing proceeded as planned, with the prosecution presenting their case first. Their new version contended that Jackson was already dead before the arrival of the medical team, and Murray intentionally misled them. It was suggested that Jackson's bodyguard aided Murray in this deception. Kenny Ortega, Jackson's producer, testified that Murray had long exhibited an excessive desire to control all aspects of the singer's life under the guise of being his treating physician. Following him, Michael Amir Williams, Jackson's personal assistant, took the stand. Williams claimed that Murray had tried to persuade him to return to Jackson's house and remove any remaining propofol. Faheem Muhammad, an aforementioned bodyguard, recounted Murray's actions, or rather lack thereof, before the arrival of the paramedics. It appeared that Murray had demonstrated gross unprofessionalism, as he was unable to even perform CPR on Jackson. Another bodyguard, Alberto Alvarez, testified that Murray had asked him to hide all the vials in Jackson's room.
The most sensational revelation during the trial, up until that point, came from an emergency medical technician. According to his testimony, Jackson was already dead long before their arrival and likely before Murray even called for emergency assistance. Representatives from a local telephone company later took the stand, revealing from their records that Murray had contacted multiple acquaintances, both his and Jackson's, before finally calling for an ambulance. Cross-examination revealed that Murray contacted the medical team at least 25 minutes after realizing that Jackson had passed away. Murray himself had the opportunity to address the court. His version of events also underwent significant changes; he now insisted that Jackson had self-administered a lethal dose of propofol, thus ending his own life.
