AEG’s Paul Gongaware testifies at Michael Jackson trial

Paul Gongaware was the second witness testify during day 1 of the manslaughter trial. He took the stand explaining his role as well as to explain how the number of concert dates were agreed to as well as how the tickets were sold.

According to the AEG Live’s Co-CEO Paul Gongaware, it was Michael who insisted on the extra shows on the schedule to ‘beat Prince’. According to Gongaware, Michael was the one who demanded 21extra shows.

According to the testimony, the first 10 shows sold out and then Michael wanted to add another 21 shows making the grand total 31.

Michael was obsessed with beating Prince’s record of 21shows at the O2 arena.

Even after selling out 50 shows, there were approximately 250,000 people waiting to buy tickets – guaranteeing another 50 shows.

Now, do you believe that Michael wanted to do 50+ concert dates considering the shape and stress he was under.

Let us know what you think.

Kenny Ortega testifies – Day 1

Kenny Ortega was the first witness on day 1 of the Michael Jackson manslaughter trial. Ortega talks about the times he worked with MJ including charitable events and tours. What Ortega provides is detailed information on why Michael wanted the tour, his physical and mental state and the disregard shown by Dr. Conrad Murray regarding Michael’s health. He humanized the superstar and showed motivation for the tour.

He explained they were co-creators for History and This is It tour. It was ‘fun, inspirational, creative, etc.’ From music, staging and lightening.

Michael did the choreography with the help from others. Ortega supervised but did not create them.

Between tours Orega and Jackson had a friendship. The last few years they kept in touch but it was mostly when working.

He was informed by AEG that MJ was interested in Ortega helping him on This is It. Michael then contacted him directly asking him to be involved with tour. MJ was excited and used the term ‘This is It’.

Ortega started mid-April 2009 working with MJ as co-creator and co-director. MJ was completely involved in the production as usual according to Ortega. He would see him 3-4 days a week at the beginning and then increased to 4-5 days a week when rehearsals started in Centre Stages in Burbank. Creative conversation and choreography sessions took place. Elements from other shows would be incorporated but it was a new show.

Beginning in mid-April weekly visits MJ was excited and convinced it was the time and reason to do the show. MJ said he wanted to share what he loved with his children, his fans who had been loyal to him and he believed his music applied to our world situation – use it as a platform to care for the planet and others.

Rehearsals moved eventually to the Forum and then to the Staples Centre. The children did not attend because MJ wanted them to see the show in London and would be concentrating on school.

MJ let the fans vote on what songs they wanted on the show. He had an incredible relationship with his fans and he wanted to give back.

Forum rehearsals were at the Forum during June. The production moved the week before his death to the Staples Centre.

Rehearsals with Michael would last 5-7 hours typically and would be in late afternoon to evening. This included all aspects of production not just physical rehearsal.

Ortega identified Dr. Conrad Murray and said he first met the doctor at MJ’s house early in the process – April or May. They were at the earlier stages of the tour.

Murray would come to the rehearsals only occasionally. He visited at the Forum.

In June, MJ was not showing up for rehearsals. Ortega said this was the latter part of June before going to the Staples Centre. It was the week before his death. A continued absence started to happen and Ortega was told it was due to scheduling.

On Friday, June 19th (one of the last rehearsals) MJ appeared lost and chilled and incohert. Ortega rubbed his feet, offered him food, put a heater near him. He asked to watch rehearsal and he did for awhile. It lasted around 1 hour or so. He did not seem chilled but he seemed not himself. Ortega said he had never seen him like this before.

Ortega expressed concerns with an email to Randy Phillips on Saturday, June 20th.

This email is heart wrenching as Ortega pleads for help from AEG. He sated he needs a strong therapist. No one is taking cre of him. Tonight I was feeding him, messaging his feet and that it would break MJ’s heart if the tour was pulled’.

A meeting was held at Michael’s house. Randy Phillips, Frank Dileo, Michael, Dr. Murray, and Kenny attended this meeting. Dr. Murray confronted Ortega. The doctor was upset that Ortega sent MJ home the night before. He was upset and said he should stop being an amateur doctor and phsychologist and start being a co-creator.He said it was not his choice.

Ortega said he was shocked. MJ did not appear to be physically or emotionally stable from that night. Murray was stern with Ortega. Ortega responded back the same. MJ told them that Ortega and he had decided he could not rehearse. MJ said he was ready to take the reins and wanted Ortega to stay by his side. Ortega was concerned and cared about him. They hugged and Ortega left.

Following that meeting on Saturday, June 20th the next rehearsal was Tuesday, June 23rd. Michael came on Tuesday with energy and a desire to work. He was enthusiastic.

On Wed. June 24th MJ came to rehearsal again in good shape. He was a full participant.

MJ performing The Way You Make Me Feel. The June 24th Earth Song was rehearsed.

A big illusion which transitioned MJ from one song to another. He was standing on a bed with silk flames and then he would be on a cherry picker.

MJ loved magic and he was excited that the apparatis on Wed. June 24th, 2009. He asked Ortega to tell everyone he loved them and thank them.

The next day, Ortega went to the Staples Center to start work on the illusion. He then learned a serious issue occurred with Michael. Paul Gongoer called him twice and then told him the singer was dead.

Ortega knew everyone was getting text messages. He called everyone to the floor and the entire cast, joined in a circle and he informed them of Michael’s passing.

On cross examination, Murray’s defense lawyers asked Ortega if this meeting was held because of missed rehearsals. The lawyer tried to get Ortega to state that other meetings had been held regarding MJ’s missed rehersals.

Ortega said that the doctor was putting together a schedule for MJ to ensure the issue regarding missed rehearsals would not occur again. The schedule was being put in place to help MJ re: schedules.

Ortega admitted concern to AEG before. He expressed concern during the Forum rehersals. Ortega admitted to talking to Randy Phillips and others regarding concern MJ.

He stated he had real concern that goals could not have been met without Michael.

On June 20th the conversation with Murray. Dr. Murray was not what had occurred and at one point looked to Michael for confirmation. Clarity occurred because Ortega clarified he did not insist Michael go home the night before.

Ortega confirmed he talked to Karen Faye. He denied telling her to ‘not playcate Michael Jackson’. He said MJ told him that he would take the reings but he denied telling her ‘he read him the riot act’.

He admitted that he too wanted This is It was important to him and would impact him too if Michael Jackson did not show up. The 3D effect was Michael’s idea and was involved in all of the effects and the show.

Ortega said that MJ had talked to him about taking the show on the road and making movies. On the June 19th rehearsal MJ’s condition scared him. He admitted he suspected MJ might have been on drugs at times during the concert rehearsals.

Dr. Klein’s name was brought up.

The schedule was changed to allow Michael to have lunch with his children.

The rehearsals got more intense with more people as they moved from the Forum to the Staples Center.

There seems to be some issue as to the changing testimony of Kenny Ortega. Some say he was not as supportive as suggested on the stand. He does, however, humanize MJ during his testimony.

Let us know what you think.

Michael Killed Himself according to defense – Day 1

The opening statements by the defense on day 1 blame Michael Jackson for his own death. According to the defense it was Jackson’s absolute total and thorough inability to sleep that caused him to administer drugs that killed himself.

This self administration killed him instantly. He died so rapidly and instantly he did not have time to close his eyes.

They promised to provide the science that would answer what happened after Jackson self administered propofol. How did MJ get to this desperate point and what happened when Murray was out of the room.

According to the defense that MJ was preparing at the O2 arena was to create history for himself and fans. Randy Phillips and Kenny Ortega and others that MJ not performing for 10 years and this series of concerts were his absolution – he needed to do these shows.

According to the defense no machine, no doctor, no CPR could have saved Michael Jackson according to the defense.

According to them, This is It was going to be how MJ would be remembered. The contract provided that he completed the shows MJ could have 4 segments of a world tour. Four to 5 movies were also to be included. Hundreds of millions of dollars were on the line. All MJ had to do was to complete the O2 shows. The problem was he was never going to be able to do these shows because he had a problem – he needed help – he went looking for that help.

Initial negotiations in Oct 2008 Randy met at the Bel Aire hotel and the parameters for the show were set out. During that meeting, MJ cried and said I am tired of being a vagabond – I want a house for me and my kids. In January, MJ met with Randy to sign the contract. They met at MJ residence and signed the contract. MJ was nervous. The contract was for 31 shows but MJ was afraid he would sell these out. It sold so quick that a mere week after presales they increased the shows to 50 and MJ – he agreed to do it on 2 conditions -

1. He and his kid had a house.
2. Guiness Book of World Records – to record the historic event – over 1 million people would see him – and had never been done before.

The defense goes on to state the following:

MJ swallowed 8, 2 mg pills of Lorazepam.

MJ self-injected a dose or Propofol that created a “perfect storm” that killed him.

MJ could not be saved because he died instantly.

MJ “had a problem” that no amount of determination could overcome, even with his talent, and without help he could not do the “This Is It” tour — a tour that would score him more money than he had ever made on tour before.

MJ went doctor shopping.

Dr. Murray is not a “celebrity doctor” but rather he saves lives. His patients will show how caring he is, how he provides care for those less fortunate, generally goes well above the standard of care expected of a doctor.

Murray treated MJ for several problems, including toe fungus and a broken foot.

MJ didn’t have insomnia — he had “an absolute, total and thorough inability to sleep.”

Murray met with detectives 2 days after MJ’s death, he thoroughly answered every question.

Michael Jackson told Murray the only way he could sleep was with Propofol and he always took Propofol. MJ told Murray exactly how it was to be administered and called it ‘milk’ and that Lidocaine was essential in administering Propofol to prevent a burning sensation.

MJ told Murray he would use Propofol with or without Murray, so Murray then agreed to provide Propofol.

Murray provided Propofol for 2 months for MJ and with it, the singer was able to live his life and sleep.

Murray was trying to ween MJ off Propofol and give him other, more traditional sedatives. With this in mind, MJ agreed on June 22 (3 days before dying) to let Murray to try to get him off Propofol.

Murray gave MJ NO Propofol at all on June 25, giving him other drugs instead. The plan was not to use it but other sedativies.

MJ had certain “personality traits.” He kept various people in life life separate from one another.

An addiction specialist, who will testify DR. ARNOLD KLEIN ADDICTED MICHAEL JACKSON TO DEMEROL.

5 days before Michael Jackson died, reps from AEG and others had a meeting at MJ’s house and talked about “pulling the plug” on the tour.

Murray only gave MJ 25 milligrams of Propofol just before MJ died. This was not enough to kill him.

Murray “only when I felt comfortable” and that there was zero Propofol in his [Michael's] system.” Of course, what Chernoff is arguing is that Michael then shot himself up with the fatal dose.

Defense returned after the lunch break.

The defense continued to discuss what can reasonably happen if someone does not intervene and the difference between what Murray gave MJ did not kill him.

Their case seems to be riding on the amount given as claimed by the doctor vs. what the prosecution claims. They are stating that the drugs that MJ received were what Murray reported and ask would this have killed him. They state more Propofol had to have been given ‘after Murray left the room’. The 25 to 100 mg difference delivery was through MJ himself not Murray.

They also stated that the Razapan in MJ was in greater amounts than what Murray stated he gave him. The difference would have required Murray to administer it every few hours.
The defense tested the stomach for content. Razapan they stated was 4x what he should have had meaning MJ was swallowing it that morning. MJ wanted to sleep for 10 hours and his doctor would not give him Propofol so MJ swallowed up to 8 pills on his own without the doctor’s permission and then MJ self administered a dose of Propofol when the doctor left the room.

So now that you have the opening for the defense, let us know what you think.

Dr. Murray literally and physically abandoned Michael Jackson – Day 1

The above picture although very disturbing was presented in court and appears to be a lifeless Michael Jackson on a gurny. We have included it to show what happened and what state Dr. Conrad Murray left Michael Jackson when he took calls, wrote emails and hid medicine in the minutes following MJ’s death.

Conrad Murray knew he was doing something wrong when he ordered mass amounts of drugs, administered the drugs without proper training, equipment or monitoring, delayed calling 911 and then lied to medical officials trying to save Michael Jackson. This is the image the prosecution is trying to provide to the jury who now has to decide if the doctor was grossly negligent during the care of the superstar.

Awful and reckless behaviour must be proven and the prosecution laid out timelines.  It was heart wrenching to hear the evidence, see the pictures and hear the drugged recording of Michael weeks before his death and found on the doctor’s phone.

The prosecution’s opening statement was aired today on TV paint a reckless scene on the day Michael Jackson was pronounced dead under the care of Dr. Conrad Murray.

Pictures of the scene, bedroom, bathroom, medical equipment, drugs, jug of urine, MJ’s last rehearsal clothing. Phone records were discussed in relation to the timeline of what authorities believe was the doctor’s actions during his care and after the suspected time Michael died.

Interview details were discussed when authorities talked to the doctor after Michael’s death.

According to the prosecution, a minimum of 25 minutes seems to have elapsed when the doctor noticed Michael not responsive to the time he told security to call 911.

The jury heard that for over 2 months the doctor was giving nightly doses of Propofol. It was during the interviews that he finally admitted using this drug. For over 30 days monthly he administered this drug.

The prosecution went over what drugs were administered according to the doctor. According to the interview of Murray, the doctor claimed MJ would cancel the rehearsal so the doctor agreed to give him Propofol.

The amount administered was debated. The 25 mg of Propofol would have induced only 5 minutes of sleep. Over 155,000 mg of this drug were shipped to the doctor’s girlfriend.

‘Stunned in the sense that he wasn’t breathing’. Abandonment – leaving unattended is medical abandonment.

Claiming he was only gone for 2 minutes. Approximately 45 minutes of phone calls were conducting.

At 11:17 Murray is emailing the insurance broker to tell him Michael’s heath was fine.

In Murray’s own words, “To speak to a 911 operator would be neglecting him”.

In addition, the court saw bags were stored in the changing room.

The prosecution wrapped up their opening statements by going over Standard of Care. Here are some of the points raised by the prosecution.

Standard of Care

Hinges on gross lack of care in this case. Omissions and actions from doctor – extreme deviation of care – gross negligence – voluntary manslaughter.

Propofol – powerful anesthetic with highly monintored setting with equipment to revive a patient. Improper setting rprepresents an extremem violation of standard of care.

Propofol – not for treatment of insomnia – is gross negligence

Propofol requires continuous medical monitoring and equipment which Murray lacked.

Written informed consent – discuss procedure with patient – benefits, risks, etc. – no such document existed or was found.

Requires charting, documenting all vital records, dosages every 5 minutes -

No doctor patient relationship – to refuse inappropriate care. Employee-employee relationship. He worked for $150,000 a month.

Deceived paramedics by refusing to disclose the administration of propofol – repeated with emergency doctors.

According to the defense the doctor ‘Literally and physically abandoned Michael Jackson’.

The court heard a heart wrenching audio tape of Michael talking under the influence of drugs.

One of the question we have is what was MJ taking when this was recorded and more importantly, why was this recorded and found on the doctor’s cell phone.

Here are some of the picture of the crime scene, including his bedroom, bathroom, drugs and equipment and clothing that Michael wore during his last rehearsal.

Let us know what you think.