Doctor accused of killing Jackson decides not to take witness stand

Conrad Murray, the singer’s personal physician has admitted giving Jackson doses of the anaesthetic propofol at his mansion as a sleep aid.

But his defence claims Jackson himself was responsible for taking a fatal overdose of the drug on June 25, 2009.

Murray told a judge about his decision during a court session yesterday without the presence of jurors, having left the possibility open that he might take the witness stand, as evidence neared a close.

The judge had advised Murray of his constitutional rights to testify or to remain silent.

Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and could face up to four years behind bars and the loss of his medical licence if convicted.

Lawyers on both sides of the case in Los Angeles say they have only a few questions for the remaining witnesses, two of whom are anaesthesia experts who have spent days explaining the powerful drug that killed the so-called King of Pop.

Dr Conrad Murray’s defence team were expected to call a researcher who prepared the computer simulations a defence expert used to support his claim that Jackson must have given himself the fatal dose of propofol.

Dr Paul White, an anaesthesia expert, has said he believes Jackson injected himself with the fatal dose of propofol when Murray left his bedside on June 25 2009.

But in a grilling from the prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren had got Dr White to acknowledge that Murray had repeatedly violated the physician’s standard of care.

Throughout the day, Dr White also told jurors he would have never have given Jackson propofol as a sleep aid.

The trial continues.