Publications
Partners
Los Angeles - An associate choreographer who worked on Michael Jackson's planned comeback concerts testified on Monday that she didn't see any signs that the pop superstar was ill or might die in the final days of his life.
"I just never in a million years thought he would leave us, or pass away," Stacy Walker told jurors hearing a lawsuit filed by Jackson's mother against concert promoter AEG Live LLC. "It just never crossed my mind."
Walker, who is testifying for AEG, said Jackson appeared thinner than he had been in previous years and wore multiple layers of clothes while rehearing for his This Is It shows planned for London's O2 arena.
She said despite Jackson missing multiple rehearsals, she was convinced based on his performances the last two days of his life that he was ready for the series of shows.
Previous witnesses have testified that Jackson was shivering and appeared unprepared.
Walker said she never saw any of that behaviour, although she acknowledged that her job was to work with other dancers and not Jackson directly.
"I wasn't looking for things at the time," she said. "I wish I was."
Jackson hid struggles with addiction
Walker was the first witness called by AEG in a trial filed by Jackson's mother, Katherine, against the concert promoter.
Her suit claims AEG didn't properly investigate the doctor convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death and that its executives missed signs that the singer was unprepared for the This Is It shows.
AEG denies all wrongdoing, and contends Jackson hid struggles with addiction. Jackson died in June 2009 from an overdose of the anaesthetic propofol, which he had been using as a sleep aid.
Walker was called to the witness stand on Monday because she is slated to leave the country for work. The trial is expected to last several more weeks.
AEG is expected to call choreographer Travis Payne, who worked with Jackson directly in preparation for the This Is It shows, and tour director Kenny Ortega is also expected to testify.
Jurors last week heard from a dancer and also Jackson's long-time makeup artist, who testified that the singer appeared thin and at times unprepared for the concert tour.
"I just never in a million years thought he would leave us, or pass away," Stacy Walker told jurors hearing a lawsuit filed by Jackson's mother against concert promoter AEG Live LLC. "It just never crossed my mind."
Walker, who is testifying for AEG, said Jackson appeared thinner than he had been in previous years and wore multiple layers of clothes while rehearing for his This Is It shows planned for London's O2 arena.
She said despite Jackson missing multiple rehearsals, she was convinced based on his performances the last two days of his life that he was ready for the series of shows.
Previous witnesses have testified that Jackson was shivering and appeared unprepared.
Walker said she never saw any of that behaviour, although she acknowledged that her job was to work with other dancers and not Jackson directly.
"I wasn't looking for things at the time," she said. "I wish I was."
Jackson hid struggles with addiction
Walker was the first witness called by AEG in a trial filed by Jackson's mother, Katherine, against the concert promoter.
Her suit claims AEG didn't properly investigate the doctor convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death and that its executives missed signs that the singer was unprepared for the This Is It shows.
AEG denies all wrongdoing, and contends Jackson hid struggles with addiction. Jackson died in June 2009 from an overdose of the anaesthetic propofol, which he had been using as a sleep aid.
Walker was called to the witness stand on Monday because she is slated to leave the country for work. The trial is expected to last several more weeks.
AEG is expected to call choreographer Travis Payne, who worked with Jackson directly in preparation for the This Is It shows, and tour director Kenny Ortega is also expected to testify.
Jurors last week heard from a dancer and also Jackson's long-time makeup artist, who testified that the singer appeared thin and at times unprepared for the concert tour.
