LOS ANGELES — Defense attorneys for the doctor accused of killing Michael Jackson began their case Monday, targeting Jackson as the architect of his own demise by seeking to cure his insomnia with an intravenous drug, even when he was warned it was dangerous.
With the testimony of a doctor and a nurse practitioner, the lawyers showed that Jackson had been on his quest for at least 15 years, and in the months before he died he began asking for intravenous medication, specifically an anesthetic.
Jackson would eventually get the drug propofol from Dr. Conrad Murray, now on trial for involuntary manslaughter in the death of the superstar.
Taking over in the packed courtroom after prosecutors rested their four-week case, defense lawyers showed their hand at last, calling witnesses who indicated it was Jackson who demanded the drug that eventually killed him.
Dr. Allan Metzger, who was Jackson’s longtime friend and confidant, said he refused the singer’s request for an intravenous anesthetic two months before his death and told the star it would be dangerous if administered in his home.
Prosecutors were quick to exploit the testimony to show that other medical professionals rejected any suggestion by the singer that he receive anesthetics as a sleep aid.
“You explained to him that it was dangerous, life-threatening and should not be done outside a hospital, correct?” prosecutor David Walgren asked on cross-examination.
“That’s correct,” Metzger replied.
He added that there was no amount of money that would have prompted him to give propofol to Jackson.
The next witness, holistic nurse practitioner Cherilyn Lee, said she urged Jackson to undergo a sleep study but that he said he didn’t have time.
Lee, who has spoken publicly about Jackson’s demand that she get him propofol, was expected to tell jurors about that exchange when she returns to the witness stand today.
Murray has pleaded not guilty. Authorities contend Murray gave Jackson a lethal dose of propofol as a sleep aid.
Defense lawyers have said they will have 15 witnesses but have not publicly revealed whether they will call Murray to testify.
