Jurors hearing the Michael Jackson wrongful death trial have a stark vision of the dead pop icon after a lawyer showed them an autopsy photo.
Dr. Christopher Rogers noted in his autopsy report that
Jackson's lips were tattooed pink, while his eyebrows were a dark tattoo. The
front of his scalp was also tattooed black, apparently to blend his hairline in
with the wigs he wore.
The autopsy confirmed what Jackson told people who
questioned why his skin tone became lighter in the 1980s. Jackson had
"vitiligo, a skin pigmentation disease," Rogers said. "So, some
areas of the skin appear light and others appear dark."
Jackson lawyer Michael Koskoff made sure the jury heard
that, even though it had nothing to do with how he died. Jackson's mother and
three children are suing AEG Live, contending the company that was promoting
his "This Is It" shows was liable for his death because of the
negligent hiring, retention and supervision of Murray.
AEG Live argues that Jackson chose Murray as his tour
doctor and that the company had no way of knowing he was using the surgical
anesthetic propofol to put the singer to sleep each night. Rogers concluded
that a propofol overdose killed Jackson, although several sedatives Murray gave
him that morning contributed to his death.
Los Angeles coroner's toxicologist Dan Anderson, who
studied the drugs in Jackson's body, testified Monday that the level of
propofol found in Jackson's body was "consistent with major surgery
anesthesia."
Propofol is a dangerous drug when not used properly, he
said. The Los Angeles coroner's office found 31 deaths in the last 14 years in
which propofol was found in a body, including six suicides committed by medical
personnel -- doctors, nurses and anesthesiologists -- who chose the drug to end
their lives, Anderson said.
There have also been several homicides with propofol,
including "a mercy killing" in a hospital, he testified. If not for
his death by propofol, Jackson's health appeared good enough for him to live a
normal lifespan, Rogers testified.
"There was no indication from the autopsy that there
was anything anatomically wrong with him that would lead to premature
death," Rogers said.
He had no signs of being addicted to street drugs, such
as needle marks or disease, he said.
That testimony is important for the Jackson case, since
if the jury decides AEG is liable in his death, his expected lifespan will be
key to calculating damages. Jackson lawyers will contend that he would have
made billions of dollars in the remaining years through several more world tours,
merchandizing, recording and movies.
The next witness up after Rogers Tuesday will be a
cardiologist, Dr. Daniel Wohgeternter, who will be called as an expert to offer
analysis of Murray's skills and decisions.
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