Prosecutor: Defense Says Michael Jackson Killed Himself

Dr. Conrad Murray

The defense for DR. CONRAD MURRAY, on trial facing involuntary manslaughter in the death of MICHAEL JACKSON, will contend that the frail superstar inadvertently killed himself, a prosecutor said during a hearing Wednesday. The AP quoted Deputy District Attorney DAVID WALGREN as saying, "I do think it's clear the defense is operating under the theory that the victim, MICHAEL JACKSON, killed himself ... They don't want to say it but that's the direction in which they are going."

The allegations came at a hearing where a lawyer for MURRAY argued over who should test residue from two syringes found in JACKSON's bedroom. FLANAGAN told Superior Court JUDGE MICHAEL PASTOR that possibly 150 milligrams of the anesthetic PROPOFOL - would have had to be present in JACKSON's body to reach the level that killed him. He noted that Dr. MURRAY has said he gave him only 25 milligrams of the drug along with small amounts of benzodiazopine sedatives to help him sleep.

This raises speculation that JACKSON injected himself with more PROPOFOL during a time when MURRAY left the room. FLANAGAN noted that a broken syringe was found on the bedroom floor in addition to a syringe in an IV medication bag. A fingerprint found on the broken syringe has yet to be identified.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin JAN. 4th.

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