Michael Jackson autopsy photo displayed in court – Day 9

On Wednesday, October 12 – Day 9 of the Michael Jackson manslaughter trial, a shocking autopsy picture was displayed after the afternoon break.

Michael’s mother Katherine and his sister left the courtroom and did not return after the break having been warned that the deeply disturbing picture would be presented to the jury.

Prosecutors showed an image of Michael Jackson’s dead, naked body sprawled on a gurney taken hours after the singer died.

Note: We have chosen not to include the 2 photos displayed although they are available on the Internet which occurs once anything is posted on the Web. They are so disturbing and graphic that we felt it not appropriate for our site to republish these pictures.

The date on the tiles beside his body appears to read August 25th, 2009 although the autopsy doctor Christopher Rogers claims the date is wrong as it should read June 25th.

Many are extremely critical that the photo was displayed in court and on TV for all to see. Defenders state that it is customary for the picture of the deceased to be shown while others state even though the trial is televised it should not have been shown to the public.

Others were critical that the prosecution did this. Some argue they must produce a body, drum the message home what was done to Michael by this incompetent doctor, etc. Others say it is simply disgusting.

We have extremely mixed feelings. We found it absolutely horrific when it was first displayed. No warning could prepare us and anyone watching the live trial really was not given that much warning. It just seemed to happen.

It became so obvious by these pictures in what state Michael was. How could those around him allow this to happen? How could he be in such bad fragile health and no-one acknowledge this? How could those experts still state he was in ‘good health’ seeing these images. The truth of what was done to this man become very painfully clear and for that the prosecution has probably got the message across as required to help convict this doctor.

On the other hand, it is heartbreaking to once again see the extent to which this man’s dignity and privacy is invaded. His lifeless body looks like a teenage boy not that of a 50 year old man. His children could at any point see this disturbing picture. It is now out there forever to see.

We just ask those that can to look away….

This is really how we want to remember him instead.