Dan Abrams On Conrad Murray Trial: ‘This Is About Michael Jackson’s Gruesome Death’

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by Zara Golden | 10:04 am, September 28th, 2011

» 13 comments

Conrad Murray‘s trial kicked off to a grim start yesterday with a photo of Michael Jackson‘s lifeless body stretched out on a hospital gurney, an eerie voicemail left by Jackson on Murray’s phone, and tears all around. ”Prosecutors want to make the jurors realize that this is about Michael Jackson‘s gruesome death,” expounded Mediaite founder and ABC legal analyst Dan Abrams, who stopped by Good Morning America early this morning to give a rundown of day one.

Abrams points out that the first witness called, Jackson’s close friend and choreographer Kenny Ortega, wasn’t pressed to talk about the actual death. “When you are talking about something like gross negligence or recklessness, the standard is so undefined,” Abrams explained. “Hearing from someone like Ortega talk about the fact that he had gone to Doctor Murray and warned him about the situation — Doctor Murray kind of blows him off — I do think that’s important in a case like this.”

The prosecution played a tape for the jurors of the fallen pop star, mumbling painfully about fame on Murray’s voicemail: “When people leave my show, I want them to say, ‘I’ve never seen nothing like this in my life.’” ”When you’re a doctor, and you have a guy who have a guy who’s talking like that, and you continue to administer Propofol,” Abrams said, “That’s exactly what the prosecution’s case is about. They’re saying that is the definition of gross negligence.”

The defense took what Abrams believes to be an “aggressive position,” choosing to argue that “he didn’t die from the Propofol, he died when Dr. Murray stopped giving him Propofol.” In court, defense lawyer Ed Chernoff suggested that Jackson was responsible for his own death, administering the deadly dose against Murray’s orders. He had “created a perfect storm in his body that killed him instantly,” Chernoff argued.

The trial continues today with Jackson’s security guard, the man who first found Jackson, taking the stand.

Watch Abrams’ full take below, courtesy of Good Morning America:

abc, Conrad Murray, Dan Abrams, Good Morning America, Kenny Ortega, Michael Jackson

Ricci Dats Me

MJ died about 20 years ago…. In this particular “death” he was sleep when it happened. We should all be so lucky.
Anonymous

No kidding. It was not a gruesome death. Tragic, but not gruesome.
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

I don’t care how much Michael wanted the drugs to fall asleep, the Doctor took an oath to provide care to his patients!! This is what happens when doctors are more concerned about making money than doing what’s right!!
Mia

exactly! Michael went to sleep and never woke up. We should all be so lucky to go that way.
Mia

exactly! Michael went to sleep and never woke up. We should all be so lucky to go that way.
Irish189

Um i would also point out that how a dead MJ looked is just prejudicial and playing with the jury’s emotions and does nothing to establish if the doctor himself is guilty or not
Jay Hanig

Michael has looked like a corpse for years. In fact, I’ve attended funerals for people who looked better dead than Michael did alive.

It was obviously only a matter of time before they found him dead of *something*.
Anonymous

The title of this article is the most obvious one ever,what else would this be about?
Anonymous

MJ’s gruesome death? Are you for real? Given the number of simply horrible ways to die, I think the way he died was quite painless and peaceful.
Tabinformed

Michael has been dead for 20 years? Is your comment meant to be a joke? Tell that joke to his family, friends, fans and the talented professionals he worked with in the entertainment industry during the last 20 years of him life. Tell it to the 13 million people who saw his record breaking concerts, in both attendance and earnings, in 60 countries between 1987 and 2002. Tell that to the 110 million album buyers between 1987 and 2008. Tell that to his ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley who had a 7 year relationship with him and even pursued him around the world for 4 more years after their divorce in 1996. And finally, tell it to his children that were born between 1997 and 2002 and were raised by Jackson as their only parent until his death occurred due to the irresponsibilty of Conrad Murray.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Mark-Bentley/100001096429581 Mark Bentley

No thanks to watching Dan Abrams’ take on the situation. Abrams is a tabloid legalista and I don’t expect an intelligent analysis from him. He’s the guy who toured the prospective prison facilities where Jackson would be doing time after the 2005 trial. He’s the guy who showed the world Jackson’s prospective toilet there. He opined that Jackson would be found guilty when the courtroom evidence was to the contrary. What insight!

No, what a disgrace. Abrams has contributed enough to the dumbing down of American news “analysis.”
Anonymous

Dan Abrams, like the other insatiable blabber-mouths bred by Court TV, is simply a callous and cold person. He’s not qualified to comment on anything concerning the trial of Murray. As a matter of fact he’s not an experienced commentator on anything that has to do with Michael Jackson, regardless if he is deceased, period! Abrams has done enough reeking havoc on swaying the public with his own non-sense opinion. TV speculators who spend a great deal of time publicly and falsely accusing people before an “innocent on all charges” verdict is given, should keep their traps closed when referring to the same person in the future? Abrams and his big shot 6 variety of websites he conjured up are wasting internet space, misleading and are nothing but spotlight seekers, that’s it, nothing more! Zip it Abrams!
Gruesome, no! Untimely, yes!
@ricci date me – The best thing for you is do is read what **Tabinformed told you and let that be a lesson for when you make harsh unfounded comments that aren’t based on facts.
@Tabinformed - Thank you very much for setting the first person straight. You really know your Michael Jackson facts!
@Mark Bentley - I couldn’t believe all the network lynching of Michael Jackson from disGrace, Dimond and the likes of other people during that time you speak of. Abrams segment on touring the possible future prison cell of Michael Jackson was something a disgusting and low-life person would do.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MM2VXQK6XP6SBZZCJVZJIBE24E ELIZABETH

This is typical of the commentators covering Michael Jackson. Unfair biased out of touch reporting. Michael is still very much alive in the public even though you Mr. Abrams pronounced him dead for 20 years. That shows how out of touch you and your cronies are. Tabinformed cited very well all the statistics that prove Michael has been alive and actively contributing to the world. But you Mr. Abrams what have you been doing but repeating the same old lies and innuendos that a small bit of research would swiftly change your opinionated statement. I agree with Mark Bentley and Henry Vaughn that the likes of you, Nancy Disgrace, Diane Demon and anyone that reported in 2005 should be barred from reporting on the CONRAD MURRAY TRIAL we already have heard your untruths and wish to hear them no more. PLEASE REPORT THE FACTS AND NOTHING BUT THE FACTS.