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Los Angeles - A choreographer who worked with Michael Jackson on his ill-fated concert tour told a judge on Tuesday he clashed with Jackson's doctor and others over the superstar's health six days before he died.
Kenny Ortega, who was the last person to work with Jackson, testified that he was summoned to Jackson's home a day after letting the superstar skip rehearsal because he seemed sick.
Dr Conrad Murray and others suggested Jackson should not have been sent home because he was physically and emotionally fine, Ortega testified, adding he was told not to try to be Jackson's doctor or psychiatrist.
Lost
The testimony came during a preliminary hearing to determine if Murray, the singer's personal physician, will be tried on a charge of involuntary manslaughter.
Later in the hearing, Ortega testified that Jackson had gone home early from rehearsals on June 19.
"He didn't look well at all," Ortega testified. "Michael was chilled and soft-spoken. ... He wasn't in the kind of condition to be at rehearsal."
Ortega also said Jackson appeared lost.
"It was scary. I couldn't put my finger on it," Ortega said. "I said, 'Michael, is this the best place for you to be or do you want to go home and be with your family?' He said, 'Would you be OK with that?' I said, 'OK,' and he left."
Delightful mood
The next morning, Ortega said, he was called to Jackson's home, where he was confronted by Murray, Jackson, the star's manager Frank DiLeo, and Randy Phillips, head of AEG, the company producing Jackson's This is It comeback tour.
"It quickly became clear that the meeting was about me," Ortega said. "Dr Murray was upset that I had sent Michael home the night before and didn't allow him to rehearse."
Ortega said he replied that, "In my opinion, Michael was not healthy enough to be on stage, and it could endanger him. I said it was Michael's choice" to go home.
The choreographer went on to say there were no problems at further rehearsals, and the two sessions that preceded Jackson's death were "fabulous".
On June 23, he said, "It was like the Michael we all knew (...) He was in a delightful mood and we had a great day."
He recalled his last conversation with Jackson.
"He said he was very, very happy. He felt the dream was there. He said to tell everybody he loved them and appreciated their hard work," Ortega said.
Jackson's mother Katherine, his sister LaToya and his brother Jackie attended the hearing, where Murray sat taking notes.
Deviation
At the end of the multi-day hearing, a judge will determine whether there is enough evidence for Murray to stand trial. The Houston cardiologist has pleaded not guilty and his attorneys have said he did not give Jackson anything that should have killed him.
Walgren said he will rely on Murray's statements to police, as well as text messages, phone records and expert testimony to show the doctor should stand trial.
He said evidence will show Murray waited at least 21 minutes to call 911 and ordered a bodyguard to help him clean up evidence before summoning help. In the most favourable scenario, Walgren said, Murray waited at least nine minutes before calling paramedics.
Walgren also plans to call several experts whom he said would testify, "there are a number of actions displayed by Dr Murray that show an extreme deviation from the standard of care".
The prosecutor also said he would call a bodyguard who would testify that Murray ordered him to collect items from Jackson's bedroom.
Kenny Ortega, who was the last person to work with Jackson, testified that he was summoned to Jackson's home a day after letting the superstar skip rehearsal because he seemed sick.
Dr Conrad Murray and others suggested Jackson should not have been sent home because he was physically and emotionally fine, Ortega testified, adding he was told not to try to be Jackson's doctor or psychiatrist.
Lost
The testimony came during a preliminary hearing to determine if Murray, the singer's personal physician, will be tried on a charge of involuntary manslaughter.
Later in the hearing, Ortega testified that Jackson had gone home early from rehearsals on June 19.
"He didn't look well at all," Ortega testified. "Michael was chilled and soft-spoken. ... He wasn't in the kind of condition to be at rehearsal."
Ortega also said Jackson appeared lost.
"It was scary. I couldn't put my finger on it," Ortega said. "I said, 'Michael, is this the best place for you to be or do you want to go home and be with your family?' He said, 'Would you be OK with that?' I said, 'OK,' and he left."
Delightful mood
The next morning, Ortega said, he was called to Jackson's home, where he was confronted by Murray, Jackson, the star's manager Frank DiLeo, and Randy Phillips, head of AEG, the company producing Jackson's This is It comeback tour.
"It quickly became clear that the meeting was about me," Ortega said. "Dr Murray was upset that I had sent Michael home the night before and didn't allow him to rehearse."
Ortega said he replied that, "In my opinion, Michael was not healthy enough to be on stage, and it could endanger him. I said it was Michael's choice" to go home.
The choreographer went on to say there were no problems at further rehearsals, and the two sessions that preceded Jackson's death were "fabulous".
On June 23, he said, "It was like the Michael we all knew (...) He was in a delightful mood and we had a great day."
He recalled his last conversation with Jackson.
"He said he was very, very happy. He felt the dream was there. He said to tell everybody he loved them and appreciated their hard work," Ortega said.
Jackson's mother Katherine, his sister LaToya and his brother Jackie attended the hearing, where Murray sat taking notes.
Deviation
At the end of the multi-day hearing, a judge will determine whether there is enough evidence for Murray to stand trial. The Houston cardiologist has pleaded not guilty and his attorneys have said he did not give Jackson anything that should have killed him.
Walgren said he will rely on Murray's statements to police, as well as text messages, phone records and expert testimony to show the doctor should stand trial.
He said evidence will show Murray waited at least 21 minutes to call 911 and ordered a bodyguard to help him clean up evidence before summoning help. In the most favourable scenario, Walgren said, Murray waited at least nine minutes before calling paramedics.
Walgren also plans to call several experts whom he said would testify, "there are a number of actions displayed by Dr Murray that show an extreme deviation from the standard of care".
The prosecutor also said he would call a bodyguard who would testify that Murray ordered him to collect items from Jackson's bedroom.
