Entertaining Posts

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Defense criticizes Jackson crime scene investigation

LOS ANGELES | Thu Oct 6, 2011 9:24pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An attorney for Michael Jackson's in-house doctor challenged a crime scene investigator on Thursday and suggested she conducted a shoddy examination of the bedroom where the "Thriller" singer stopped breathing in 2009.

Jurors in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray also heard from a toxicologist, who said he found the anesthetic propofol in Jackson's blood, liver, urine and stomach. The sedative lorazepam and other medications were also found in his body.

Authorities have ruled that Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication, combined with the sedative lorazepam.

But the day's most confrontational exchange came during the testimony of coroner's investigator Elissa Fleak. Murray's attorney, Ed Chernoff, mounted the defense team's most forceful challenge since the trial began in Los Angeles on September 27.

Murray has admitted to giving Jackson propofol through an intravenous injection as a sleep aid on June 25, 2009. His attorneys say Jackson gave himself an extra, fatal dose of the drug once Murray was out of the room.

Fleak combed through Jackson's bedroom with police after the singer's death.

"Would you agree with me that you made a substantial number of mistakes in your investigation?" Chernoff asked her.

Fleak denied that suggestion, but acknowledged her original hand-written notes were destroyed when they were transferred into an official report. "I do that in all my cases," she added.

Chernoff questioned Fleak on her assertion that a bottle of propofol was found inside an IV bag.

Investigators found the propofol bottle and IV bag stashed inside a shopping bag in a closet area four days after Jackson's death, Fleak said.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys agree Murray's fingerprint was on the propofol bottle. They also stated that Jackson's fingerprints could not be found on vials of propofol and other drugs retrieved from the bedroom and nearby.

Fleak admitted her original notes did not mention finding the propofol bottle inside the IV bag, and that the first time she placed that in her notes was earlier this year.

But she denied suggestions by Chernoff she had changed her findings to make them fit in with another witness. "I've never talked to prosecutors about another witness," she said.

In one of the odder moments, prosecutors on Thursday also showed jurors a photo of a toy doll, that appeared to be made of porcelain or plastic, and was found on the bed where Jackson was found lying lifeless.

(Editing by Peter Cooney)

Defense challenges Jackson crime scene investigation

By Alex Dobuzinskis

LOS ANGELES | Thu Oct 6, 2011 5:04pm EDT

The testimony of coroner's investigator Elissa Fleak came midway through prosecutors' presentation of their case in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray.

Murray's attorney, Ed Chernoff, mounted the defense team's most forceful challenge since the trial began in Los Angeles on September 27.

Murray has admitted to giving Jackson the powerful anesthetic propofol, through an intravenous infusion, as a sleep aid on June 25, 2009. His attorneys claim Jackson gave himself an extra, fatal dose of the drug once Murray was out of the room.

Fleak combed through Jackson's bedroom with police after the singer's death.

"Would you agree with me that you made a substantial number of mistakes in your investigation?" Chernoff asked her.

Fleak denied that suggestion, but acknowledged that her original hand-written notes were destroyed when they were transferred into an official report. "I do that in all my cases," she added.

Chernoff questioned Fleak on her assertion that a bottle of propofol was found inside an IV bag.

Investigators found the propofol bottle and IV bag stashed inside a shopping bag in a closet area four days after Jackson's death, Fleak said.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys agree that Murray's fingerprint was on the propofol bottle.

Fleak admitted that her original notes did not mention finding the propofol bottle inside the IV bag, and that the first time she placed that in her notes was earlier this year.

Security guard Alberto Alvarez, one of the first members of Jackson's staff on the scene after the singer stopped breathing, has testified that he saw a vial of a drug with a milky substance -- which prosecutors say was propofol -- inside an IV bag. Alvarez said he put them in a shopping bag at Murray's urging.

Fleak denied suggestions by Chernoff that she had changed her findings to make them fit Alvarez's story, at the urging of prosecutors. "I've never talked to prosecutors about another witness," she said.

Fleak said she photographed the IV bag and the propofol bottle, after taking the bottle out of the bag, to show they were found together.

(Editing by Mohammad Zargham)

ESPN and Hank Williams Jr. part ways on "MNF"

LOS ANGELES | Thu Oct 6, 2011 1:46pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - ESPN and country music artist Hank Williams Jr. have parted ways, both parties announced on Thursday, following controversial comments in which Williams compared President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler on Monday.

ESPN said in a statement that Williams' song "All My Rowdy Friends," which has been the opening theme song for ESPN and ABC's "Monday Night Football" for about 20 years, will no longer used as the opener for the show.

"We have decided to part ways with Hank Williams, Jr," ESPN said. "We appreciate his contributions over the past years. The success of 'Monday Night Football' has always been about the games and that will continue."

But Grammy-winning Williams, 62, indicating that he had made the decision to end his partnership with ESPN.

"After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision. By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It's been a great run," Williams said in a statement on his official website.

The final rift came after the sports network pulled the song from the opener of "Monday Night Football" on Monday after Williams said in a Fox News Channel appearance that Obama's pairing with Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner in a June golf summit was "like Hitler playing golf with (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu."

ESPN swiftly replaced the "All My Rowdy Friends" theme with the national anthem on Monday.

Williams later acknowledged that his analogy was "extreme" and apologized if he had offended anyone, but added that the thought of opposing politicians "high fiven on a golf course while so many families are struggling to get by simply made me boil over and make a dumb statement."

There was no word on Thursday on what the replacement theme song for ESPN's "Monday Night Football" will be.

(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant)

Steve Jobs biography pushed up for release

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Jackson tribute show goes on despite setbacks

By Mike Collett-White

LONDON | Thu Oct 6, 2011 6:41am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - A Michael Jackson tribute concert will go ahead this weekend in Wales despite squabbling among the late singer's siblings, a backlash from fans, a headline act withdrawing at late notice and tickets still unsold.

Chris Hunt, head of Global Live Events which is staging the Saturday "Michael Forever" gig in Cardiff, admitted that preparations had been challenging, but blamed "misinformation" for some of the negative headlines.

"I've never been in a situation in my entire career like it where so many false rumors emerged as if from nowhere," Hunt told Reuters in a telephone interview.

He denied reports that the promoters had fallen out with Jackson's estate and said that any large family like that of the "King of Pop" was bound to have disagreements, particularly one that lived in the bright media glare.

"It's going to be a huge and spectacular event," Hunt said of the gig at the Millennium Stadium, where there will be room for over 60,000 people.

Taking part in the concert will be Jackson's brothers Marlon, Tito and Jackie and his sister La Toya, who will be performing live in public for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Also expected to be present are his mother Katherine, three children and several other close family members.

Brothers Jermaine and Randy, however, criticized the tribute because it coincided with the involuntary manslaughter trial in Los Angeles of Jackson's doctor. Janet Jackson has declined to take part citing the same reason.

The "Thriller" singer, one of the most successful yet troubled artists of the pop era, died in 2009 aged 50 while rehearsing for a series of comeback concerts.

Experts on the Jacksons said such rifts were common in the famous family, but would do nothing to enhance the standing of the tribute concert in the eyes of the public.

But Hunt played down their significance.

"If you can get any family of that size to agree about everything then it's a wonderful day. We've got nearly all the family here," he said.

"A couple of them decided they didn't want to do it and they cited a reason which, to my mind, and indeed to most of the rest of the family, has no logic to it whatever."

LINEUP HICCUPS, ANGRY FANS

Divisions in the family have not been the only hurdle for Hunt and his team.

In September, some fan websites protested over reports that ticket prices had been slashed in a 2-for-1 offer that did not apply to those already purchased.

A month earlier, a group of 35 fan clubs had lobbied for the concert to be canceled due to concerns ranging from confusion over charitable donations to its timing.

Hunt said a portion of the profits would go to two charities with links to Michael Jackson -- the AIDS Project Los Angeles and Prince's Trust -- as well as a trust fund for the singer's children.

"Not all the money goes there (to charity) because we have investors and they would like to get their money back, and if they get a little bit more than their money back they would be delighted," he explained.

"I don't think it's going to do beyond that."

Some commentators said that, despite contributions to charity, the Jackson family stood to benefit financially, a point some fans might find distasteful.

"This (concert) is something they could have done a little bit later when it (the trial) was over with or even before this started," Stacy Brown, a journalist and Michael Jackson biographer, told Reuters.

"This is not about charity. This is about lining the bank accounts of the Jackson family."

Hunt said he was "happy" with ticket sales, although he did not have precise numbers, and that they had picked up "hugely" in recent days.

Wednesday's announcement that the Black Eyed Peas were withdrawing had not dented demand for tickets, he added, although they were arguably the biggest act on the bill.

In addition to Jackson family members, the lineup includes Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Gladys Knight and Smokey Robinson, and among British stars appearing will be Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, JLS and Diversity.

Beyonce will appear in a video performance.

"This is a Jackson family evening," Hunt said. "I think it's easy to underestimate this. I think it will be a hugely emotional evening. Mrs Jackson and the children will be very visible."

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)