Opening statements began this week in the long anticipated manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray.  The drama-filled day’s zenith included a few moments taken from an iPhone audio recording of a conversation between Murray and Jackson just weeks before the singer died.

Jackson’s slurred voice belied his soaring ambition as he said “I want them to say, ‘I’ve never seen nothing like this in my life. He’s the greatest entertainer of all time.’”  His philanthropic nature seemed to shine, as he pledged to take the profits from what would have been his swan song tour, “This Is It” and starting a hospital for children bearing his namesake.

Once the recording concluded, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren explained, “That is what Conrad Murray is seeing and observing on May 10, 2009, and what does he do with that knowledge and information? On May 12, he orders another shipment of Propofol and Midazolam.”

Following the phone call and a photo of Jackson on a gurney juxtaposed against the pop star in rehearsal just 24 hours prior, defense attorney Ed Chernoff told jurors how Jackson, of his own accord, swallowed enough lorazepam pills the morning of his death to induce sleep.  He also asserted that Jackson self-administered Propofol, creating a lethal “perfect storm in his body.”  Chernoff  alleged that Murray and Jackson were friends and Murray was attempting to wean Jackson off Propofol before Jackson took the final fatal dose.

Testimony continues throughout the week.  Stay tuned for coverage…