Dr. Conrad Murray AP FILE PHOTO
LOS ANGELES—Michael Jackson fans clutched sunflowers and screamed “murderer!” Tuesday as the King of Pop’s doctor went on trial for manslaughter, more than two years after his death.
Some 300 people massed alongside a media circus outside the hulking downtown court building, where one woman reportedly tried to attack the physician, Conrad Murray, shortly before the long-awaited trial started.
“He should have been charged with second-degree murder,” said Erin Jacobs of Justice 4 MJ, one of the numerous groups gathered outside the LA Superior Court, where the trial is due to last five weeks.
Some fans traveled from overseas to attend the trial, and many queued up for a chance to attend the trial itself — although with only six places in court allocated in a daily lottery, there was little hope.
That didn’t matter for those who came to voice love for their idol. “We have 30 banners here, from Italy, Russia, England, Chile, Africa, from all continents, Rita Bosico, 46, told AFP outside the court.
“It’s a reminder of how wide his influence is,” she added.
Betty Byrnes, 59, co-founder of the group Call for Love, was more positive: she said people brought sunflowers to show their affection for the late pop icon, who died of an overdose of powerful sedative propofol on June 25, 2009.
“They say it was his favorite flower but for us it represents love and justice for Michael Jackson,” Byrnes told AFP as she handed out the blooms.
Inside the building, a woman tried to rush Murray on the ninth floor of the LA Superior Court building shortly before the trial got underway, CNN reported. Sources inside the building confirmed there had been an incident.
But while Jackson fans made up most of those gathered outside, Murray also had his supporters.
“We love Dr. Murray, he is innocent,” said one of about 10 Murray supporters in the crowd — who didn’t seem particularly in conflict with the Jackson fans, posing for pictures and videos together.
One of Murray’s supporters present was his personal assistant Stacey Ruggles, 44, who said she worked with him for 16 years.
“I was on the phone with him the day Michael Jackson died,” said Ruggles, who is a witness at the trial. “We are here to support Michael Jackson and Conrad Murray.
“Michael Jackson’s wish for all of us was peace and love and so for Conrad Murray, that created their friendship … He shouldn’t have been charged,” she said.
Others were skeptical about the proceedings. “Fair trial my ass,” said John Efferson, a 53 year-old supporter of Murray. “The media determine who wins and who lose. How are they (prosecutors) going to overcome something like that?”
Goward Horton, 30, had another theory. “Michael Jackson was murdered because of the Beatles catalogue,” he said, referring to rights to the Fab Four’s music owned by the “Thriller” singer.
Inside the court, the trial notably heard a recording of an apparently heavily drugged Jackson talking by phone with Murray over a month before his death, suggesting this showed the doctor was well aware of how ill Jackson was.
Jackson’s family — mother Katherine and father Joe, plus siblings Jermaine, Janet, LaToya, Randy, Tito and Rebbie — appeared aghast when the recording was played to the court.
All the children looked at their mother to see if she was all right, according to an AFP correspondent attending the trial with some 30 accredited media. La Toya, who was taking notes, wiped away a tear.