A.J. Trial Session 87: Final Remarks by the Jacksons’ Defense Attorney (2)

Today, Brian Panish at 1:00 p.m. delivered the second and final round of his closing arguments—responding to the defense attorney’s remarks from the previous day—for a total of 2 hours. After that, the case was handed over to the members of the jury for their decision.

Panish said:

* How dare they (A.J.) claim they bear no responsibility and put all the blame on Michael?

* The only thing that matters to them is to put on a concert and make money. They don’t care about Michael Jackson. From the beginning, their goal wasn’t to help bring Michael back. They wanted Michael to get paid.

* Do you, members of the jury, want to let them get away with it? Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this isn’t right—this isn’t right for you to let the company executives celebrate in the street and pop champagne.

* They want you not to like Michael. Is this case about that? Michael paid the highest price himself—he’s not here anymore.

* They think they can fool you. That’s why we’re here (to stop that).

* The Jackson family couldn’t confront the company without dragging the case into court.

* Whose testimony should you believe?

Panish again showed videos of the company executives being questioned. In response to the questions, they say they don’t remember anything or they don’t know.

* The decision is yours. They want you to decide based on these testimonies.

Panish showed interviews from the film Dis is It and compared them with the testimony presented in court.

* Before this trial, A.J. had said that Michael Jackson was the best showman in the world and that his ticket sales broke records. But after the trial, that tone changed.

Panish showed parts of the rehearsal footage from Dis is It. These parts were not included in the documentary film Dis is It. Panish believes these segments challenge the film. The company includes the parts it wants in the film. In these segments, Michael is extremely thin.

* This shows that A.J. knew their artist was dealing with a problem.

* A.J.’s executives had told the tour group members that when they talk about Michael in the media, they shouldn’t tell the truth—that they shouldn’t say he looked very weak and thin. They told them to say “positive” things.

* One of A.J.’s executives, in an email, said: “We control all the films and we keep all of them in a safe in Staples Center.” This email was a response to someone who was worried about the release of films showing Michael in a bad condition.

* Michael was supposed to go on a world tour after the London concerts ended. A.J. denies that Michael intended to hold a global tour. An investigator said he had heard from an A.J. employee that London was only the beginning of the story and that the world tour would last several years.

* A.J. is trying to convince you that black is white. They take the “sole” to Kerman. If you fall for their trick, you’ve rejected all the evidence.

* Murray believed he was hired by A.J. In the entertainment industry, signing oral contracts is common practice—they then bring that same oral contract onto paper and sign it. But the validity of an oral contract is no less than that of a written one. If people always waited for a written contract to be finalized before starting the work, then nothing would ever get done in this industry.

* A.J. saw the train going off the tracks, but instead of stopping it, they poured more fuel into its engine so it could keep going.

* The grief of a human being is never cleansed from the heart; instead, its shadow spreads across the lives of those left behind. Time does not heal all wounds. That’s why we are facing such a devastating loss here.

* Morally, Murray was unfit; he didn’t pay his bills, including the costs for his many children.

* Everyone was worried that Murray was Michael’s doctor. Everyone knew there was a problem among them.

* The doctor’s main duty is to his patients, but Murray closed his office for 10 days because of money and didn’t accept his patients. Does a worthy and capable doctor do such a thing?

* After Michael began skipping rehearsal sessions, A.J. sent a written contract for Murray. Was that just an accident? Murray signed that contract, and that shows A.J. wanted to control the doctor.

* Propofol may not be the best option, but if you have a skilled doctor by your side, you shouldn’t die.

* In April, two months before his death, Michael wanted to use natural treatments for his insomnia.

* Any delay in the start of the tour would cost Murray $150,000 per month.

* Murray was more eager to push forward with the tour than his patient’s health.

Panish showed videos from Dis is It and, at the same time, displayed the company executives’ emails on the monitor.

* The emails say Michael isn’t doing well, he’s disheveled. Randy Phillips, the CEO of A.J. Live, threw him under a cold shower and slapped him.

* A.J.’s executives humiliated Michael. They called him a “freak,” and the only thing that mattered to them was how much money this “freak” could put into their pockets. One of them said that seeing Michael made his body tingle.

* Michael was under pressure; he could lose everything. He wanted to see the tour through—not just for his children. He was dealing with financial issues and wanted to make sure his children had money. He put everything he had into this.

* Until the Pepsi fire incident, Michael had no drug problem. He wasn’t taking drugs to feel energetic and lively; he was taking them because he had pain.

Panish displayed a pie chart to show what share A.J. and Michael had in the death of the King of Pop. Michael: 20%. A.J.: 80%.

And the final line...

* The fate of Prince, Paris, and Blanket is in your hands, members of the jury—and I know you will do the right thing.

Source: eMJey.com / AP