Dr. Conrad Murray...formally charged! Mob scene at courthouse...

"It's not enough," Jermaine Jackson hissed to reporters in disgust as he exited a limo purring at the curb and strode towards the courthouse to attend Dr. Conrad Murray's arraignment on charges of involuntary manslaughter.

After an exhaustive investigaton by the LAPD which stretched over a few harried months, word filtered out from annonymous sources at the end of last week, that a charge of involuntary manslaughter was imminent.

As I reported in posts in recent  days, law enforcement officials are alleging that Murray failed to meet proper protocol when he administered a  lethal dose of a controlled substance which resulted in the Pop Star's untimely death.

Post: 02/05/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/02/dr-conrad-murraylapd-bowing-to-pressure.html

Post:  02/05/10

ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/02/dr-murray-conradjackson-doc-surrenders.html

Post:  02/03/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/02/michael-jacksondrmurray-to-surrender-to.html

Although a deal was hammered out last week - wherein Murray would be able to turn himself in to the LAPD without the necessity of being handcuffed or subjected to a perf walk and/or a frenzied public spectacle - the deal fell apart when Jackson family members and media types complained that Jackson's doctor was being given special treatment.

Murray's attorneys alleged there were death threats levelled against the doctor which warranted special handling.

The angry mob who shouted at Murray as he walked the gang plank into the courthouse to appear before the Judge signalled the allegations might be true.

If I am not mistaken, Murray's facial expression throughout that fast trot, hinted at just how frightened he was about that possibility.

In addition to Jermaine, Michael Jackson's parents were in tow, and anxious to sit ringside during the course of the legal proceeding.

As expected, Murray pled not guilty this afternoon at the LAX airport Courthouse.

The Judge ordered Murray to turn in his passport and refrain from any travel outside of the U.S. until the case was resolved in the courts.

In addition, His Honor informed the doctor that the court was placing restrictions on his role as a physician.

In sum, Murray is barred from administering or writing a prescription for propofol, when he returns to active practice at his medical offices in Texas and Los Angeles.

Dr. Murray previously acknowledged giving Mr. Jackson the drug shortly before the singer was found unconscious on June 25th of last year.

The coroner determined that Mr. Jackson had died from acute propofol intoxication in combination with a handful of other potent sedatives.

Legal analysts are predicting that the trial will be long, focus on complex legal  issues, and drag out a lot of dirty laundry that will titillate the Nation in coming months.

News at 11!

Dr. Conrad Murray...LAPD bowing to pressure? No surrender, yet...

I reported earlier today (and two days ago) that Dr. Conrad Murray flew into LA LA LAND on his own hard-earned buck ready to surrender to the LAPD on a charge (in some degree) of murder.

I noted in those posts that there was an outcry from family members who raged that Michael Jackson's physician was, in essence, rustling up special treatment by virtue of his lawyer's slick behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

Post:  05/03/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/02/charlie-sheenstolen-mercedes-crash.html

Post: 03/03/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/02/michael-jacksondrmurray-to-surrender-to.html

In particular, Jackson's sister was quite vocal about the fact that the LAPD had no qualms hand-cuffing Michael when he was arrested on alleged child molestation charges (in the midst of a demeaning public spectacle).

Consequently she wondered aloud to all within earshot - why Dr. Murray was  not facing the same routine arrest - like any other citizen being charged and prosecuted for a crime.

In all the reports I have sifted through, I haven't been able to turn up one good reason why Murray should be entitled to turn himself  in to the LAPD,  in the man prescribed  by his lawyers.

If you recall, Jackson's physican has been accused of administering a controlled substance in a lethal dose without following appropriate protocol.

Red-faced reps on both sides have agreed on one thing for sure:

No surrender, yet!

News at 11.

http://www.julianayrs.com

Dr. Conrad Murray...Jackson doc surrenders to police @ 1:30 p.m. today!

Michael didn't need to die!

Dr. Conrad Murray ready to face music!

Day before last I reported that Dr. Conrad zMurray (who confessed to administering a lethal dose of Propofol to Michael Jackson which resulted in his untimely demise in June of 2009) flew to Los Angeles to surrender to the LAPD.
 
Post:  02/03/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/02/michael-jacksondrmurray-to-surrender-to.html

Today, sources have confirmed that Dr. Murray will turn up at the Police Station this afternoon to hand himself in to authorities with lawyers by his side (Friday February 5th).

For several weeks rumors have floated out of the inner sanctum at the Law Enforcement Agency that charges of involuntary manslaugher - at a minimum - were about to brought against the troubled doctor who was last seen with Michael just shortly before his death.

Meanwhile, some controversy arose in recent days, over the  the manner of arrest proposed.

Lawyers for the doctor were anxious to have their client turn himself in without the necessity of a formal arrest which would have included handcuffing amidst a swirl of paparazzi (in what would have amounted to a media circus) charging in for candid shots.

On the other side of the coin, concerned individuals complained that Dr. Conrad Murray - in a self-surrender scenario - would appear to be getting special treatment.

Even heiress Paris Hilton was once forced to endure the demeaning process while the world looked on.

Defence lawyers and law enforcement officials apparently reached an accord behind the scenes, and so, the good doctor is slated to appear before a Judge for a brief hearing at 1:30 p.m.

Sources close to the court proceedings have conjectured that the hearing will be video-taped.

Law enforcement officials previously revealed that prosecutors planned to charge the doctor with involuntary manslaughter on the grounds that he allegedly gave Michael  the powerful anaesthetic to help him sleep without following proper protocol (which ultimately led to his death).

Michael Jackson's family have lamented that an involuntary manslaughter charge amounts to just a slap on the wrist.

News at 11!

www.julianayrs.com

Michael Jackson...Dr.Murray to surrender to police! Admits injecting propofol...

Michael didn't need to die!

Dr. Conrad Murray ready to face music!

For weeks, there have been rumors that the LAPD is about to file charges against Dr. Conrad Murray, for administering a lethal dose of Propofol which ultimately caused pop icon Michael Jackson's untimely demise.

Although a representative from that  Law Enforcement Agency stressed this week that no documents have been  filed this week, the rumors have persisted that the troubled physician may have to face the music (no pun intended) soon.

The buzz has been heightened by the fact Dr. Murray travelledrecently  to Los Angeles on his own buck to await an arrest (which some surmise) is inevitable on charges of  involuntary manslaughter at a minimum.

Some feel that the charges (if and when imposed) may not be sufficient for the alleged crime.

For example, Michael Jackson's family believes involuntary manslaughter charges would be "just a slap on the wrist," attorney Brian Oxman said Wednesday.
"Dr. Conrad Murray displayed recklessness in dispensing powerful drugs to help Jackson sleep, warranting a second-degree murder charge. Involuntary manslaughter - the charge prosecutors reportedly plan to seek - carries a maximum jail sentence of just four years."

In a follow up summation, he inferred that Murray's conduct - in view of the facts - was downright criminal in the first degree.

"That is just a slap on the wrist, and a slap in the face, because Michael Jackson was someone who we knew was in danger of being brought to his knees, brought his death, by the use of these medications."

Although there is ample time for law enforcement to carefully dot all their "i's" and "t's"-  insiders close to the case are predicting - that an arrest is imminent.

To bring a manslaughter charge, prosecutors must show there was reckless action.

If a doctor is aware of a risk, and ignores proper protocol, then he or she may be held accountable.

Propofol is only supposed to be administered as an anesthesia by a professional in a medical setting (which was not the case with Michael Jackson).

And, a patient also requires constant monitoring, because the drug depresses breathing and heart rate while also lowering blood pressure.

A deadly combination of the two existed in respect to Jackson.
A cardiologist has maintained from the outset that nothing he gave the singer should have killed him.

Administering propofol to Jackson wasn't illegal, so prosecutors must show Murray deviated from accepted medical norms when he administered it in a non-medical setting while Jackson already had other sedatives in his system.

I was one of the first members of the media to report on the death of Michael.

That day, I happened to be on campus at UCLA, when his body was flown into the "emergency" medical center just across the street.

In fact, TMZ and I, were just about neck-and-neck in penning and posting the news alert on Twitter.

Post: 06/25/09 (Jackson dead!)

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/06/michael-jacksoncollapsed-not-breathing.html

Post:  06/25/09 (Media Circus @ UCLA)
http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/06/michael-jacksonmedia-circus-ucla.html

Post: 06/26/09 (Jackson Wake)

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/06/michael-jacksonwake-celebrates-life.html

Post:  06/30/08 (TMZ criticized)

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/06/tmzmichael-jackson-scoop-stooping-low.html

Post: 07/03/08 (Tickets for Jackson Funeral)

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/07/michael-jacksonhow-to-get-tickets-for.html

Post: 08/30/09 (Jackson death ruled homicide)

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/08/michael-jacksondeath-homicide-overdose.html
.
Post:  06/29/08  (Fans place Flowers on Michael's Star)

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/06/tmzmichael-jackson-scoop-stooping-low.html

Post: 06/29/08 (Fans brave hot sun to pay last respects)

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/06/michael-jacksonfans-wait-in-line-in-hot.html

http://www.julianayrs.com

Michael Jackson...OPUS gift idea for die-hard fans! Stunning comprehensive tome...

In the wake of Michael Jackson's death there have been many Michael Jackson tributes -  including a handful in book form chronicling the late pop icon's life & times in the glare of the spotlight since he first sauntered onstage a naive young performer with the Jackson 5 decades ago

Just recently, a thick tome aptly titled  - "The Official Michael Jackson Opus" - has hit the shelves at a handful of upscale bookstores around the country.

The book carries some weight - 38 pounds of it  in fact - and is comprised of 404 pages of thrilling publicity stills sure to appeal to the most discerning die-hard Jackson fan.

According to the publishers, eighty-percent of the images have never been released before and or rarely seen the light of day.

The slick eye-catching publication is priced at a whopping $249.00.

Photo editor Deborah Wald pronounced Opus as a loving tribute to Jackson's  legacy and work.

Opus highlights include four  images of the superstar musician - copies of actual hand-painted portraits by artist Nate Giorgio - dashed off two weeks prior to Michael's death.

One chapter is dedicated to Michael's fashion sense and throws a spotlight on his innate sense of style which was world-renowned.

Producer Ken Kragen also contributed a copy of an original lyric sheet from "We Are the World to be included  in the book (the original was signed by all the artists at the recording session on that auspicious occasion).

Apparently, the hit single was inspired by Jane Goodall (primatolgist) who urged that Michael write a song when he expressed an  interest to "heal the world" on the occasion of her visit to Neverland ranch.

To historians and loving fans - a bevy of poignant shots of Michael taken during the course of his storied long-and-winding career - are probably of the most interest.

One photo captures an 11-year old Jackson signing an autograph in front of the Rolling Stones office in 1971 complete with Afro and dressed in Jackson 5 stage get-up.

A great Christmas gift idea for the loved one or friend in your life who had just about everything, 'til now.

http://www.julianayrs.com

Michael Jackson...tickets! Gone, Gone, Gone...

If you're as antsy as me, you probably checked your e-mail box non-stop yesterday, to determine if you'd been blessed with a couple of coveted tickets for Michael Jackson's Memorial Service downtown Tuesday (July 7th) at the Staples Center.

Fortunately, Ryan Seacrest zipped off a tweet and I was warned in advance that the organizers for the much-anticipated Jackson service, were not going to contact ticket recipients until Monday, July 6th (today).

So, I slipped out the door at dusk last night and hit the nightclub circuit to catch the tail-end of the 4th of July festivities.

This morning, when I plucked up the Los Angeles Times to give it a quick peruse, I suddenly spied a newspaper article which noted briefly that a handful of winners were informed by e-mail communication at about 5:45 pm yesterday afternoon of the outcome of their entries in the draw .

One thrilled couple back East were jubilant that their names were selected by the high-tech computer that must-have whizzed through the entries like lightning and quicker than you can say google!

At first, they were highly-suspicious, according to the reporter.

"They thought they were being scammed."

But, under close-scrutiny, they determined they pulled off the invite of the decade!

Heh, these folks deserve the privilege.

Imagine that, the dedicated fans are laying out cold hard cash to book flights, and fly in from out-of-town to attend the Memorial Service.

later, when I first logged on to the Internet - and opened up Yahoo - I didn't spy one peep from the Jackson folks.

Boo Hoo!

But, when I was scrolling down the in-box a couple of minutes later - an e-mail communication from staples.com - caught my eye.

I clicked on the link not knowing what to expect.

Darn, it was a polite message informing me that the computer ticket-picker, passed me by.

Here it is verbatim:

Thank you for your registration. Sorry, we regret to inform you that your registration to attend the Public Memorial Service for Michael Jackson was not selected. Hundreds of thousands registered, but only a few can be in attendance. S

Even still, I think the event-planners exhibited a lot of class!

I mean, instead of leaving a host of wistful hopefuls twisting in the wind - they were truly thoughtful enough to inform us first-hand - before the lucky few started boasting near and far.

Hats off to Staples, the Jackson's, and the whole slew of handlers organizing the event.

Cool, dudes!

Ironically, a curious news item published nearby in the same edition of the Los Angeles Times, caught my attention - and likewise - signalled that Jackson organizers may have to put up with uninvited guests, nonetheless.

According to the management at Staples, Barnum & Bailey is set to ring up the curtain on their 5-day Circus extravaganza at the stadium day-after tomorrow.

Get this!

Just shy of the hour the Jackson entourage, invited guests, and fans are scheduled to descend on the staples center to pay their last respects, a herd of Elephants is slated to parade down the causeway, too!

Although the organizers were trying to avoid a zoo-like atmosphere at the Memorial Service - ironically, as fate would have - a 3 ring Circus will head up the funeral procession!

Getting hit with a bit of bird sh** may be lucky, but a paddie of Elephant dung, I wonder?

In view of Michael's love for animals, all I can offer up in closing is, what a way to go!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Michael Jackson...how to get tickets for Memorial Service!

Today, when I logged into Twitter, Ryan Seacrest (DJ) was thoughtful enough to post a tweet with instructions on how to take a shot at scooping up (free) tickets to the Memorial Service planned for Michael Jackson to be held here on the West Coast early next week.

Jackson family spokesperson Ken Sunshine (& CEO Tim Leiweke) appeared at a news conference Friday and unveiled the well-thought-out detailed arrangements to commemorate Jackson's recent passing into spirit.

Fans, tourists, friends, plain old folks, paparazzi - even members of the media - are invited to pay their last respects to MJ - and may do so - by entering a draw at staples.com web site.

Info: staplescenter.com.

The Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, July 7th, at the Staples Center (live) in the Nokia theater.

There will be simulcasts on three screens.

The broadcasts will commence at 10 am.

Tickets

There are 17,500 tickets available in total.

11,000 tickets will be handed out to people to attend the service inside the Staples Center.

In addition, 6,500 tickets will be reserved for individuals who wish to view the service from a simulcast at the Nokia theater.

A balance of 9,000 tickets have been reserved for the Jackson family to use at their discretion.

Draw Instructions

Fans have trouble registering due to high traffic at the web-site are asked to be patient!

Once the winners are drawn, they will be notified on Sunday between 11 am and 8 pm, and provided with a Code for a Ticketmaster ticket.

Winners are asked to arrive early at the Staples Center on Monday morning to pick up their two tickets and two wristbands in person.

Winners must pick up their tickets in the manner instructed because there will not be any future distribution of tickets at either the Staples Center or Nokia theatre.

Organizers are also recommending that individuals without tickets wishing to attend watch the Memorial Service from home since no spectators will be allowed to accumulate outside of the downtown Staples Center during the Memorial Service.

Registration

Once an entrant's registration has been received, accepted and processed at the staples site, the following online notice will appear on-screen with these final instructions:

"Your registration for your chance to attend the Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service has been received."

"If your application is successful, you will receive an e-mail on Sunday, July 5, 2009 after 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) with your exclusive unique code and instructions on how to obtain your two free tickets to attend the Public Memorial Service. "

"A valid ticket will be required to enter STAPLES Center & L.A. LIVE area on Tuesday, July 6, 2009."

"Tickets will be distributed for either the public memorial service in the STAPLES Center or at the live television broadcast in the adjacent Nokia Theatre."

"Please add info@staplescenter.com to your address book to ensure successful email delivery."

From moi?

Good luck!

http://www.julianayrs.com/

Michael Jackson..."wake" celebrates the life & music of Pop Icon! UCLA unlikely host...

Michael, what happened?

This morning's papers were awash with news about Michael Jackson in the wake of his unexpected death yesterday afternoon at the UCLA Medical facility in Westwood (CA).

Many of the insightful detailed reports echoed each other.

There were eye-witness accounts of mourning fans, thoughts on what amounts to a colossal loss to the creative end of the music industry, reports on weepy candle-light vigils, and up-close and personal interviews with contemporaries who sang the Pop Icon's praises now that he has departed from this mortal coil and passed into spirit.

From where I stood, however, the overwhelming news event smacked more of a celebration of Michael's life & music.

A "wake", if you like.

Indeed, in a mass turn-out in front of the UCLA Medical facility late yesterday afternoon and early into the evening, fans demonstrated their love for a performer who was many things to many different people.

Yes, Jackson was a musical genius, an original given to unexplained excesses, a talented artist prone to self-destruct at any moment, you name it.

Once the news swept out from the inner recesses of the UCLA medical facility that doctors were desperately trying to work their magic to restore life to a frail shell of a human being that was fast expiring - fans descended on the well-manicured courtyard outside the hospital - and began their vigil.

But, what I beheld before me was not a teary-eyed assembly of mourners, grief-stricken beyond comprehension - but rather - a joyous throng of devoted fans who chose to celebrate his life and music the best way they fathomed they could.

The spirited music-lovers mimicked his style (many turned out with gloved hand, signature Fedora-style hat, outfitted in eye-catching outerwear festooned with sequins that glittered like stardust in the mid-afternoon sun), as they sang out the catchy - at times tricky - arrangement of notes and words of a dozen or so of his memorable hits.

Occasionally, emotions took hold - at which point a handful of high-spirited fans - broke into a contagious dance that continued on into dusk.

When the familiar strains of "Thriller" hit the air, the mood shifted gear and the fans went into a wild frenzy.

Young tots, hip teens - even older snazzily-dressed Jackson fans - let loose and danced individually and in pairs (even trios, at times) - inside a "magic circle" like moths drawn to a flame.

At one point, a beaming Afro-American male spied my own lithe bod gyrating to the unique beat of the mega hit from yesteryear and was inclined to give me a nudge.

"Go on, man. Get in there. It's your turn."

Hesitant, but willing nonetheless (dancing is my first love), I stepped into the glare of the spotlight at the heart of the hypnotic beat of the pop hit and danced up a storm.

A roar went up from the crowd.

"That was the beauty of it," I thought to myself.

This "wake" was all inclusive.

At this point, for me anyway, the lines blurred somewhat.

One moment, I was logging the "historical event" from a reporter's point of view for posterity; in the next, I was swept up, across a great divide.

All the walls came tumbling down as I relaxed into the warm and fuzzy moment.

The world shifted.

I was transformed from an unbiased commentator on the sidelines into a bona fide fan capable of appreciating the remarkable compositions of a uniquely gifted musician who had just passed into spirit before his time.

Even still, Michael Jackson's rich legacy of sound - pure in it's creative genius - shall march on.

Such was the potent power of the Prince of Pop's musical gifts.

http://www.julianayrs.com

Michael Jackson...media circus @ UCLA! Debacle reminiscent of Elvis...

By late afternoon, once the shocking news of Michael Jackson's death streaked across the Internet - and beyond into local businesses and the cozy homes of devoted fans - the skies here in picturesque Westwood were black with helicopters buzzing the frenzied masses below.



Meanwhile, on land routes that normally accessed the state-of-the-art UCLA hospital with ease, were now cordoned off for the most part as University security hand-directed the traffic flow in a bold-faced effort to avoid a potentially dangerous gridlock.



Two dozen or so media outlets were inclined to screech to an abrupt halt in their vehicles and park along the median strip haphazardly - at which point - they bolted up to the front doors of the medical facility where the Pop Icon passed into spirit a few scant hours ago.



It was an impromptu media blitz, if ever there was one, and was reminiscent of the debacle that followed in the wake of Elvis' death decades ago.



Fans held brightly-colored signs etched with loving tributes - and on occasion - broke into a hypnotic chant.



"Michael! Michael! Michael."



Did they half expect their Crown Prince to rise up from the dead - and "moon walk" once last time - before taking a final bow forever?



One fan turned up the sound on his CD Player - and within minutes - bodies were writhing to the strains of the "Man in the Mirror".



My own included.



Catchy little ditty, that!



Did the emboldened hordes descend on Michael's final resting place because the image of the man - though distorted and misguided at times - still inspired them to recognize the power of song?



All of the media heavyweights were in attendance, too.

(MTV, CNN, NBC).



Each news team waited patiently (albeit a bit frustrated with the cards they had been dealt) for the doors of the temporary press room to swing open wide so they could surge forward - animals that they are - and stake a claim at a News Conference guaranteed to satisfy not only their audiences but the curious madding crowd to boot.



One reporter next to me in line shrugged.



"What can the doctors or Police Officials tell us that we don't already know?"



She answered her own question in a cynical tone of voice.



"Time of death. Who he is survived by. Yada Yada Yada."



On the contrary, I pointed out.



In this instant case, enquiring minds were probably pining for all the juicy tidbits.



Was the death accidental?



"No way," one reporter snapped back incredulous at the thought.



Was the unexpected death brought on by natural causes, his own hand, or due to drugs?



Also, there were nagging questions surrounding the hour of death.



Allegedly, Jackson died at approximately 1:21 pm this afternoon.



But, for some inexplicable reason, the legendary POP star was not pronounced dead until about two hours later at approximately 3:23 pm.



I know.



I was sitting at a computer terminal when MSNBC flashed a news alert to that effect.



Bottom line?



Expect the unexpected.



And, a lot of drama, Hollywood-style!