Jackson guard told ‘Put drugs in a bag’

Alberto Alvarez said Dr Conrad Murray grabbed the vials from a nightstand next to Jackson, who was still in his bed.

“He said ‘Here, put these in a bag’,” Mr Alvarez said of Murray.

Mr Alvarez said at first he thought he was bagging the items for a trip to the hospital. He added that he trusted Murray because he was a doctor.

Mr Alvarez testified that Murray only told him Jackson had had a bad reaction.

The bodyguard is the sixth witness to testify in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Murray, who has pleaded not guilty.

Earlier, Mr Alvarez told the Los Angeles court Jackson was in good spirits at a rehearsal on the night before he died. “He was very happy,” Mr Alvarez said. “I do recall he was in very good spirits.”

Prosecutors accuse Murray of giving Jackson a lethal dose of the anaesthetic propofol in his bedroom.

Prosecutors are calling key witnesses in an attempt to show Murray delayed calling authorities on the day Jackson was found dead and was intent on concealing indications that he had been giving the singer doses of the surgical anaesthetic. The trial continues.

Michael Jackson’s sister La Toya will come out of retirement to perform at a tribute concert for her brother in Wales next month.

The singer has not performed a full live set for almost 20 years, but will play alongside stars including Gladys Knight, The Black Eyed Peas, Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on October 8.