Doctor 'told Jackson's bodyguard to bag up vials during battle to save star'

Published on Wednesday 5 January 2011 16:14

A FORMER bodyguard to Michael Jackson testified yesterday that he saw a doctor charged in the singer's death grab a handful of vials and put them in a bag during frantic efforts to revive the star.

Alberto Alvarez was the first security guard to reach the bedroom, where prosecutors claim Dr Conrad Murray administered a fatal dose of the anaesthetic propofol to Jackson on 25 June, 2009.

A tearful Mr Alvarez, 34, said he was frozen at the sight of Jackson on the bed with his eyes and mouth open.

Murray ordered him to place several vials the doctor had scooped up into a brown canvas bag before he was told to call an ambulance, the bodyguard said.

"He just grabbed a handful of bottles, or vials, and he instructed me to put them in a bag," Mr Alvarez said.

The testimony could provide key corroboration to the prosecutors' argument that Murray's actions demonstrated "an extreme deviation from the standard of care" by administering propofol without the proper equipment, and also concealing it and botching efforts to resuscitate the singer.

Deputy district attorney David Walgren said on Tuesday in his opening statement that Murray waited up to 21 minutes before paramedics were called.

Jackson died before help was summoned, the prosecutor said.

At the end of the preliminary hearing, which was expected to go into next week, a judge will rule whether there is enough evidence for Murray to stand trial on an involuntary manslaughter charge in the pop star's death.

He could face up to four years in prison if convicted.

The Houston-based cardiologist has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have contended that he did not give Jackson anything that should have killed the singer.

On Tuesday, Jackson's friend and choreographer, Kenny Ortega, described how the singer appeared sick during a rehearsal six days before his death and left early.

The rehearsals were for a series of planned comeback concerts in London. Mr Ortega said after that incident, Murray "was upset that I had sent Michael home the night before and didn't allow him to rehearse".

The hearing, attended by international media and fans, provided another glimpse into the private life of Jackson, a one-time superstar who grew reclusive after his acquittal on child molestation charges in 2005.

Murray was providing Jackson propofol roughly six times a week since being hired as the singer's personal physician in May 2009, Mr Walgren said.

Another bodyguard, Faheem Muhammad, testified that he saw Jackson lying on his bed.He described Murray as panicked and said the doctor asked whether anyone knew CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

The hearing is expected to include testimony from police, coroner's officials and forensic experts, who will describe the mixture of sedatives found in Jackson's system.

Preliminary hearings in the US have a lower burden of proof than trials, and defence attorneys rarely present a case. Murray's lawyer, Ed Chernoff, did not make an opening statement.

Janet Jackson attended the hearing yesterday, as well the late singer's other two sisters, LaToya and Rebe, brother Randy, father Joe and mother Katherine.