Scottsdale Mama

Posts Tagged ‘Michael Jackson’

Unless you live under a rock, you have heard that Dr. Conrad Murray was CONVICTED OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER of the death of Michael Jackson. If you did not see the reading of the verdict just go to YouTube or www.CNN.com to see exactly what happened.

This really does not come as a surprise since the evidence clearly demonstrated numerous deviations by Dr. Conrad Murray from the standard of care in his treatment of Michael Jackson. However, the jury had to have found that a deviation actually CAUSED THE DEATH. This was where I thought it was a bit confusing. The jury could have thrown their hands up and just said even though we don’t know what actually caused the death, Dr. Conrad Murray screwed up so badly so many times that he should be found guilty. We won’t know for sure what the jury was thinking until they speak…if they do.

The next step in this saga is the sentencing. Dr. Conrad Murray will be scheduled for a sentencing hearing to take place soon. He is looking at a max of 4 years in prison. However, taking into consideration the status of the California prison system, he will likely do less than half of that time. He was taken into custody today since he has had a lot of time to prepare for this and he is now a convicted felon, and a possible flight risk.

What I thought was interesting was that the jurors must wait 90 days before they can receive any pay or any benefit for speaking or telling their story. I wonder who will speak first, and who will pay the most.

Just like the OJ Simpson trial, there could be a civil trial. In other words, Michael Jackson’s estate could sue Dr. Conrad Murray for his part in the death of Michael Jackson. However, I do not know what that could accomplish other than adding to the emotional turmoil both sides have already been going through. You see, the only consequence of a civil action would be a monetary award against the doctor. There is no jail time in a civil action. But, if Dr. Conrad Murray’s medical license is taken away, which it likely will be due to all the deviations from the standard of care that were shown in the trial, he has no means to make money to ever pay a monetary award. So, a civil action would result in both sides spending a large amount of money in attorney’s fees and costs. Granted, the estate could obtain a judgment that would follow the doctor around for life, much like that in the OJ Simpson situation, but how much satisfaction could that bring?

In my opinion, the only reason to bring a civil action against the doctor would be for revenge and/or closure. Nothing can be done to bring MJ back and nothing but time can make the loss any better. It would simply result in more anguish, stress and tears for all involved. I would not counsel the family to go forward with a lawsuit and would instead counsel them to start the healing process.

Sad situation, for all involved, but especially for the World, who lost such an amazing ICON. Rest in peace Michael Jackson.

Day #6 in the Dr. Conrad Murray trial (Michael Jackson Death Trial) mostly consisted of ladies. To be specific, Dr. Murray’s ladies. The prosecution called 3 of the doctor’s girlfriends, past and present. Apparently all 3 are or were strippers and/or servers. Now, as a former prosecutor, I am sure the prosecution was salivating at this information and tried everything it could to get this information in. After all, if you are a stripper you can’t be believed right? If you like strippers you can’t be believed right? If you have a baby with a stripper you are definitely not a good person, right? (insert sarcasm)

Well, the prosecution scored on this one. Each of the three ladies are what you would call “timeline” witnesses. Dr. Murray had communications (phone call or text message) with each of them the day Michael Jackson died. As such, they are witnesses. As witnesses, certain information about them and their proclivity for telling the truth is now relevant. In comes the “stripper” information. Hold up, not so fast, the Judge in this case correctly saw the prejudicial nature of having their professions known by the jury and thus ruled this information could not come in. However, they could mention “social club.” Oh please – as if the jury won’t figure that one out. I have yet to see the relevance of what their chosen profession is and more importantly, I fail to see the relevance that Dr. Murray goes, or went, to strip clubs. BIG DEAL. It doesn’t prove any element of the prosecution’s case and is more prejudicial than probative in my opinion. (That is the test of relevancy; does it have a tendency to prove a material fact in issue – if so, is the probative value outweighed by the prejudicial impact.)

In the end does it make a difference, that he likes strippers, to the issue of whether his gross deviation from the standard of case caused MJ’s death? No. But, considering the social taboo surrounding strippers and those who socialize with them, he could be convicted just because of this.