murray. and so dr. murray told investigators that, yes, he agreed, he agreed to help michael jackson sleep, he agreed to provide propofol. and mr. walgren pointed out they'll have experts say that the mere act of providing propofol for sleep is negligent. he spent a long time in his opening statement talking about that. what you will learn from the evidence, though, is this -- dr. murray provided propofol for sleep for two months for michael jackson, for two months. for those two months that he provided propofol to michael jackson, michael jackson slept, he woke up, and he lived his life. he went to work, and he continued with what he needed to do, what he felt he needed to do. the evidence is not going to show you that michael jackson died when dr. murray gave him propofol for sleep. what the evidence is going to show you is that michael jackson died when dr. murray stopped. what mr. walgren did not tell you in opening statement but what you will learn in this case, what you will learn in this trial, i

i said, hurry, dr. murray needs you. there may be something wrong with your father. >> reporter: so prince follows dr. murray up the stairs to michael jackson's private quarters, and the she goes back to the kitchen. now, if you're wondering why, in an emergency involving her boss, the cook would send a 12-year-old boy to help, so was the defense, on cross examination. >> you saw dr. murray frantic, eyes wide, yelling. did you think that a 12-year-old child is going to be able to assist this doctor with a problem with michael? >> i did what i was told. >> you did what? >> i did what i was told and i went to get prince. >> reporter: and she, like dr. murray, did not call 911. who did? >> please state your name for the record. >> alberto alvarez. >> reporter: alberto alvarez may be the key witness in this case. bodyguard, head of the advance team and first in the room where dr. conrad murray was desperately working to bring their boss back to life. it was alvarez who finally called for an ambulance. >> we have a gentleman

murray, look, you got to do something. and what did dr. murray do? dr. murray continued to administer propofol, texted his girlfriends and then hid the fact that propofol was used by him from the responders, the 911 call responders. i think michael jackson's prior health condition was very important. i think it makes it more difficult for dr. murray to defend himself because, to everyone around michael jackson, it was obvious michael jackson was in distress and needed serious help. you don't end up weighing 110 pounds at your death unless you're in hospice care. unfortunately in this case dr. murray failed to provide sufficient care, was grossly negligent and therefore the government has decided to prosecute him for being guilty of involuntary manslaughter. >> mike barnes, do you agree with that? you're a drug policy adviser, you're an attorney. it's a complex one. the defense will say, look, michael jackson was addicted to these drugs, pain killers and stuff to help him sleep and it h -- he'd been taking these a long time and our client was trying to we

and when dr. murray gave him the 25 milligrams and dr. murray left the room, michael jackson self-administered a dose, an additional dose of propofol. and it killed him. and it killed him like that. and there was no way to save him. >> reporter: as conrad murray listened, he wiped away tears. the defense portrayed him as a good doctor, a friend to michael jackson, a friend trying to wean him off propofol. >> the evidence is not going to show you that michael jackson died when dr. murray gave him propofol for sleep. what the evidence is going to show you is that michael jackson died when dr. murray stopped. >> reporter: leaving michael jackson, according to the defense, to take the drug himself. later in the day, prosecutors called their first witness, kenny ortega, the director and choreographer behind jackson's "this is it" tour. prosecutors attempted to establish that jackson appeared in good health. they played this rehearsal clip in court. >> this is how we rehearse. >> what was he demeanor, what was his condition on june 23rd? >> he

murray, look, you got to do something. and what did dr. murray do? dr. murray continued to administer propofol, texted his girlfriends and then hid the fact that propofol was used by him from the responders, the 911 call responders. i think michael jackson's prior health condition was very important. i think it makes it more difficult for dr. murray to defend himself because, to everyone around michael jackson, it was obvious michael jackson was in distress and needed serious help. you don't end up weighing 110 pounds at your death unless you're in hospice care. unfortunately in this case dr. murray failed to provide sufficient care, was grossly negligent and therefore the government has decided to prosecute him for being guilty of involuntary manslaughter. >> mike barnes, do you agree with that? you're a drug policy adviser, you're an attorney. it's a complex one. the defense will say, look, michael jackson was addicted to these drugs, pain killers and stuff to help him sleep and it -- he'd been taking these a long time and our client was trying to wean

. >> dr. murray did not cause the death of michael jackson. there's no way that dr. murray would pump michael jackson full of propofol sufficient for major surgery and walk out of that room. >> reporter: dr. murray could get up to four years in prison for the death of the king of pop. randi kaye, cnn. >> memories of those terrible times. tom mesereau joins me. he represented michael jackson in his child molestation trial. you believe that dr. murray is guilty of involuntary manslaughter. but it's difficult to convict doctors in criminal cases. how hard a case do you think this will be for the prosecution? >> here's what i think the prosecution has to do. the prosecution has to effectively and powerfully educate this jury that this particular drug is not like a prescription medication. it's not like a pill to help you go to sleep, not like an anti-depressant pill. this is so radically different from prescribed medications and this is something that's powerful, dangerous and should never be in a home. every doctor i talk to was shocked it was in a home, not to mention

dr. murray and michael jackson. so during that crucial time frame when something went terribly wrong, there were two players present. one of them is deceased. if we want to know what happened, we're going to have to hear from the other one. dr. murray will have to tell his side of the story. >> holly hughes, thanks so much. >> thanks. >> and of course, we'll continue to monitor the testimony in the trial and bring you live coverage here on cnn as the developments happen. for completely trial coverage throughout the day, you want to tune into our sister network, hln. >>> all right. he changed the way people listen to music online. the founder of napster tells our dan simon what he sees coming next in the digital revolution. . >>> a reminder to vote for today's choose the news winner. text 22360 for the story that you want to see. text 1 for aussie female fighters. australian women will soon be on the front lines of battle. text 2 for world war ii sunken treasure. we take you to the bottom of the sea, where a team of

. >> dr. murray did not cause the death of michael jackson. there's no way that dr. murray would pump michael jackson full of propofol sufficient for major surgery and walk out of that room. >> reporter: dr. murray could get up to four years in prison for the death of the king of pop. randi kaye, cnn. >> memories of those terrible times. tom mesereau joins me. he represented michael jackson in his child molestation trial. you believe that dr. murray is guilty of involuntary manslaughter. but it's difficult to convict doctors in criminal cases. how hard a case do you think this will be for the prosecution? >> here's what i think the prosecution has to do. the prosecution has to effectively and powerfully educate this jury that this particular drug is not like a prescription medication. it's not like a pill to help you go to sleep, not like an anti-depressant pill. this is so radically different from prescribed medications and this is something that's powerful, dangerous and should never be in a home. every doctor i talk to was shocked it was in a home, not to mention

jackson's family made it clear that they blame dr. murray for jackson's death. dr. murray denies involuntary manslaughter but the prosecution claimed he was well aware of the effects of drugs were having on michael jackson. they played a rambling, incoherent tape recording the doctor made of? and days after he was hired. >> [unintelligible] >> central to this trial is a powerful surgical anesthetic known as propofal, an overdose that was caucaused michael jac's death. the question is to administer the fatal dose? the prosecutor saw to leave the jury and no doubt as to who was irresponsible. >> did dr. conrad murray abandon michael when he needed help? it was dr. conrad murray's gross negligence. it was dr. conrad murray's unskilled hands and his desire to obtain this lucrative contract of $150,000 a month that led dr. conrad murray not only to abandon his patient but to abandon all principles of medical care. >> a contrasting picture of dr. murray as a caring physician brought the defendant to tears. his lawyer said michael jackson's dependency on drugs was what ult

murray, look, you got to do something. and what did dr. murray do? dr. murray continued to administer propofol, texted his girlfriends and then hid the fact that propofol was used by him from the responders, the 911 call responders. i think michael jackson's prior health condition was very important. i think it makes it more difficult for dr. murray to defend himself because, to everyone around michael jackson, it was obvious michael jackson was in distress and needed serious help. you don't end up weighing 110 pounds at your death unless you're in hospice care. unfortunately in this case dr. murray failed to provide sufficient care, was grossly negligent and therefore the government has decided to prosecute him for being guilty of involuntary manslaughter. >> mike barnes, do you agree with that? you're a drug policy adviser, you're an attorney. it's a complex one. the defense will say, look, michael jackson was addicted to these drugs, pain killers and stuff to help him sleep and it had -- he'd been taking these a long time and our client was trying to

and when dr. murray gave him the 25 milligrams and dr. murray left the room, michael jackson self-administered a dose, an additional dose of propofol. and it killed him. and it killed him like that. and there was no way to save him. >> reporter: as conrad murray listened, he wiped away tears. the defense portrayed him as a good doctor, a friend to michael jackson, a friend trying to wean him off propofol. >> the evidence is not going to show you that michael jackson died when dr. murray gave him propofol for sleep. what the evidence is going to show you is that michael jackson died when dr. murray stopped. >> reporter: leaving michael jackson, according to the defense, to take the drug himself. later in the day, prosecutors called their first witness, kenny ortega, the director and choreographer behind jackson's this is it tour. prosecutors attempted to establish that jackson appeared in good health. they played this rehearsal clip in court. ♪ >> this is how we rehearse. >> what was he demeanor, his condition on june 23rd? >> he entered

. >> dr. murray did not cause the death of michael jackson. there's no way that dr. murray would pump michael jackson full of propofol sufficient for major surgery and walk out of that room. >> reporter: dr. murray could get up to four years in prison for the death of the king of pop. randi kaye, cnn. >>> memories of those terrible times. tom mesereau joins me. he represented michael jackson in his child molestation trial. you believe that dr. murray is guilty of involuntary manslaughter. but it's difficult to convict doctors in criminal cases. how hard a case do you think this will be for the prosecution? >> here's what i think the prosecution has to dpoop the prosecution has to effectively and powerfully educate this jury that this particular drug is not like a prescription medication. it's not like a pill to help you go to sleep, not like an anti-depressant pill. this is so radically different from prescribed medications and this is something that's powerful, dangerous and should never be in a home. every doctor i talk to was shocked it was in a home, not to menti

while murray was in the bathroom. >> dr. murray administered a dose of propofol that with the lorazepam made a perfect storm in his body. >> reporter: they say it was too late to save jackson. >> he died so rapidly, so instantly, he didn't even have time to close his eyes. >> reporter: dr. murray who charged jackson $150,000 per month was emotional as his lawyers talked of his friendship with the singer. members of the jackson family were also in court, including michael jackson's parents and his sister janet. ben tracy, cbs news, los angeles. >>> the two children of that missing utah woman susan powell have been placed in her parents' care. the boys had been living with her husband josh powell and his father steven but removed last week when steven was arrested on charges of possessing child pornography. josh powell argued he is a loving father and his children should remain of him. >> i had no knowledge of any wrongdoing, nor any indication that there could have been any wrongdoing on my father' aid and passengers released

and when dr. murray gave him the 25 milligrams and dr. murray left the room, michael jackson self-administered a dose, an additional dose of propofol. and it killed him. and it killed him like that. and there was no way to save him. >> reporter: as conrad murray listened, he wiped away tears. the defense portrayed him as a good doctor, a friend to michael jackson, a friend trying to wean him off propofol. >> the evidence is not going to show you that michael jackson died when dr. murray gave him propofol for sleep. what the evidence is going to show you is that michael jackson died when dr. murray stopped. >> reporter: leaving michael jackson, according to the defense, to take the drug himself. later in the day, prosecutors called their first witness, kenny ortega, the director and choreographer behind jackson's "this is it" tour. prosecutors attempted to establish that jackson appeared in good health. they played this rehearsal clip in court. ♪ >> this is how we rehearse. >> what was he demeanor, what was his condition on june 23rd? >>

. >> it was dr. murray's repeated incompetent and unskilled act that led to mr. jackson's death. >> in opening statements, prosecutor david called conrad murray grossly negligent. a doctor for hire willing to give michael jackson what he wanted to treat his insomnia. an overdose of the drug killed the singer on june 25, 2009. prosecutors played an audio recording dr. murray made weeks before jackson's death. they say the singer was clearly under the influence of something.. prosecutorred showed the jury this photo. michael jackson's dead body lying on a gernie. they argue he ended up there because of the course of two months, dr. murray gave him propofal almost every day. murray left the singer alone in his room. it's normally only used in a hospital. >> he left him there, abandoned him to fend for himself. >> dr. murray has admitted giving jackson propofal, but the defense says it was jackson who ultimately killed himself, while dr. murray was in the bathroom. >> michael jackson self- administered a dose of propofal that with another created a perfect storm in h

dr. murray can be seen still pacing two and a half hours after the fight to save jackson is over. and then, something odd, says the personal assistant. >> there's some cream in michael's room, or house, i believe room, that he wouldn't want the world to know about. and he requested that i or someone give him a ride back to the house to get it so the world wouldn't know about the cream. >> reporter: but instead, the personal assistant calls security, instructing them to lock down the jackson compound, not to let anybody in, including dr. conrad murray. tomorrow, another of jackson's security guards is expected to testify that michael jackson's doctor wanted him to destroy evidence. another potentially dramatic day in what is proving already to be an explosive trial. for "nightline," jim avila, abc news, los angeles. >> we will continue to monitor the trial, of course. >>> and just ahead, it's a label they wear with pride. america's cheapest family. they may also be the best savers you've ever met. their savings strategies, next. man: my electric bill was breaking the bank. so to sa

i said hurry, dr. murray needs you. there may be something wrong with your father. >> reporter: so prince follows dr. murray up the stairs to michael jackson's private quarters, and the she goes back to the kitchen. now, if you're wondering why, in an emergency involving her boss the cook would send a 12-year-old boy to help so was the defense, on cross examination. >> you saw dr. murray frantic, eyes wide yelling. did you think that a 12-year-old child is going to be able to assist this doctor with a problem with michael? >> i did what i was told. >> you did what? >> i did what i was told and i went to get prince. >> reporter: and she, like dr. murray, did not call 911. who did? >> please state your name for the record. >> alberto alvarez. >> reporter: alberto alvarez may be the key witness in this case. bodyguard, head of the advance team and first in the room where dr. conrad murray was desperately working to bring their boss back to life. it was alvarez who finally called for an ambulance. >> we have a gentleman her

. >> did you, upon hearing that message, call dr. murray? >> yes, sir. >> did he ask you to call 911? >> no, sir. >> reporter: in court, williams was also asked about murray's strange behavior at the hospital, as news spread that the king of pop was dead. >> what, if anything, was the request of conrad murray? >> he said that there's some cream in michael's room or house, i believe room, that he wouldn't want the world to know about and he requested that i or someone give him a ride back to the house. >> did you agree to take conrad murray back to the house? >> no, sir. >> reporter: williams told the court he was so spooked by murray's behavior, he asked jackson's security to lock up the house and not allow murray back inside. but defense attorney ed chernoff pointed out williams waited months before showing his concerns with authorities. >> mr. williams, the very first time you told the police about dr. murray wanting to get some cream was august 31st, 2009, correct? >> yes, sir. >> this was over two months after michael jackson had died? >

the 20 minutes before dr. murray asked anyone to call 911. the fact that he told e.r. doctors as well as first responding paramedics about anti-anxiety medicine but didn't mention propofol. these are the facts prosecutors have started to lay out in court. >> all right. savannah guthrie. thanks. >>> now to alabama where a federal judge upheld the toughest immigration law in the country. a law that tells elementary schools to investigate their kids. one commentator today called this arizona on steroids in terms of immigration. opponents of the law are promising a fight. nbc's kerry sanders in birmingham, alabama, for us tonight. kerry, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. the state immigration law is now on the books here. but those who will have to enforce it are yet to figure out just how they will do that. today, police in alabama have new power. teachers have new responsibilities -- to check people's birth certificates and to enforce what, until now, was federal immigration law. not everyone welcomes the new authority. >> we don't believe that teachers in

dr. conrad murray was doing as michael jackson lay dead or dying. >>> first, let's check in with isha sesay. isha? >>> anderson, as amanda knox's defense team makes their case that her murder conviction should be overturned, we'll show you photos you've never seen before, exclusive pictures taken of her inside the prison she could soon go free from or possibly spend many more years in. that and much more when "360" continues. and i know a thing or two about fast. i purchased 3 homes with quicken loans. i wouldn't use anyone else. there were no hidden fees and no surprises. quicken loans is a lot like me -- we're both engineered to amaze. it'd be easier to compare. you think these all cost about the same. they all give safe drivers a discount. but what's this? only allstate gives safe drivers something more. a bonus check every six months you drive accident-free. so what's it going to be? eenie, meanie, miney... or more. shop less. get more. make one call to an allstate agent. [ female ann

and when dr. murray gave him the 25 milligrams and dr. murray left the room, michael jackson self-administered a dose, an additional dose of propofol. and it killed him. and it killed him like that, and there was no way to save him. >> reporter: as conrad murray listened, he wiped away tears. the defense portrayed him as a good doctor, a friend to michael jackson, a friend trying to wean him off propofol. >> the evidence is not going to show you that michael jackson died when dr. murray gave him propofol for sleep. what the evidence is going to show you is that michael jackson died when dr. murray stopped. >> reporter: leaving michael jackson, according to the defense, to take the drug himself. later in the day, prosecutors called their first witness, kenny ortega, the director and choreographer behind jackson's "this is it" tour. prosecutors attempted to establish jackson appeared in good health. they played this rehearsal clip in court. ♪ >> what was his demeanor? what was his condition on tuesday, june 23rd? >> he entered into rehear

dr. murray is on trial for our involuntary manslaughter and negligent, charges he is vigorously defending. -- i am sarah caldwell. >> two is a compelling testimony, members of the jackson family arrived for day three of conrad murray's trial. >> on wednesday, the family lived michael's final hours, when his personal assistant testified about the critical moment when dr. murray found jackson unresponsive and the frantic phone call he had with the doctor before 911 was called. >> he said it here right away. >> jackson's chief of security then described the chaotic scene inside the jackson's bedroom, witnessed by the pop star just children. >> paris was on the ground, balled up crying, and prince was standing there, and he just had a real shot -- just that type of look on his face. >> he said that dr. murray looked nervous as he was giving cpr to life was michael jackson. >> the doctor asked you if you knew cpr? >> yes. >> today one of the prosecution's most damaging witnesses is expected to

prosecutors played an audio recording dr. murray made weeks before jackson's death. they say the singer was clearly under the influence of something. >> reporter: prosecutors also showed the jury this photo-- michael jackson's dead body lying on a gurney, they argue he ended up there because over the course of two months they say dr. murray gave him propofol almost everyday. on the day jackson died, they say murray left the singer alone in his bedroom after giving him the drug. it's normally only used in a hospital. >> he left him there, abandoned him to fend for himself. >> reporter: doctor murray has admitted giving jackson propofol and other sedatives, but the defense says it was jackson who ultimately killed himself while dr. murray was in the bathroom. >> michael jackson self- administered a dose of propofol that, with the lorazapam, created a perfect storm in his body, that killed him instantly. >> reporter: defense attorney ed chernoff says it was too late for dr. murray to save jackson. >> he died so rapidly, so instantly he didn't even have time to close his

dr. conrad murray was doing as michael jackson lay dead or dying. >>> first, let's check in with isha sesay. isha? >>> anderson, as amanda knox's defense team makes their case that her murder conviction should be overturned, we'll show you photos you've never seen before, exclusive pictures taken of her inside the prison she could soon go free from or possibly spend many more years in. that and much more when "360" continues. [ male announcer ] this is lara. her morning begins with arthritis pain. that's a coffee and two pills. the afternoon tour begins with more pain and more pills. the evening guests arrive. back to sore knees. back to more pills. the day is done but hang on... her doctor recommended aleve. just 2 pills can keep arthritis pain away all day with fewer pills than tylenol. this is lara who chose 2 aleve and fewer pills for a day free of pain. and get the all day pain relief of aleve in liquid gels. and fewer pills for a day free of pain. [ woman announcing ]bsite there's a

. >> audio was from dr. murray's cell phone. he's accused of giving jackson a lethal dose of a powerful anesthetic. jackson died at the age of 50. his family appeared in court today. diana avellar has more. >> reporter: one trial, two men. the victim the world's biggest superstar, michael jackson. the defendant his personal physician, dr. conrad murray. all that is certain is that jackson died from a fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol. prosecutors wasted no time telling the court who was to blame. >> i was dr. murray's repeated, incompetent and unskilled acts that lead to mr. jackson's death. >> reporter: murray's attorney disagree, claiming it was jackson himself. experts say it is possible. >> not at all i am plausible, in my opinion that he -- implausible, in my opinion he could have pushed an injection in that port and kill himself. >> reporter: first on the stand choreographer, kenny ortega. exy dr. murray brushed off his concerns that jackson looked ill and weak telling him the star's health was not his busines

murray asks him to do something else first. a critical request prosecutors contend shows dr. murray's guilt. >> he reached over and grabbed a handful of vials and reached out to me and said, "here, put these in a bag." >> reporter: then alvarez says dr. murray pointed to the iv bag and asked that it, too, be put away. inside that bag was a bottle, dripping a milky, white liquid, with the appearance of propofol. just how valuable was that bodyguard's eyewitness testimony? alvarez says he turned down a half million dollars for a tv interview, $200,000 from "the national enquirer," though he hasn't had a job since michael jackson died and he's broke. diane? >> all right, jim, thank you, on this case every day. >>> and tonight, we hear from a unique american voice, someone who has had a front row seat to democracy. retired supreme court justice john paul stevens. he has written a new memoir, "five chiefs," and "gma" anchor george stephanopoulos sat down with him to ask, if after 60 years on the bench, he regrets any of the decisions he handed down, and he does. the one voting to

dr. conrad murray could get four years in prison or lose his medical license. dr. sanjay gupta has information on the defense team's strategy. we'll also talk to mark geragos and marcia clark. >>> also ahead, sarah palin is threatening a lawsuit. she's not happy about a new book about her and her family. details on that coming up. ectio! when we set you up with that little hardware store we didn't intend for your face to be everywhere. but fedex office makes it so easy. not only do they ship stuff, they print flyers, brochures -- everything i need to get my name out there. that's the problem. now we need to give you a third identity. you're paul matheson. and you're gonna run your business into the ground. erik gustafson would never do that! there is no erik gustafson. hey that's erik gustafson!!! there is no erik gustafson!!!!! [ male announcer ] small business solutions. fedex. solutions that matter. should i bundle all my policies with nationwide insurance ? watch this. on one hand, you have your home insurance with one company. and on another hand, you have you

murray and when dr. murray came on board to be his personal physician, he had no idea he was addicted to this propofol and his goal was to stand by his side and help him wean off of this and eventually help his friend beat this addiction. that was his motivation for staying because the big question people would have, when you found out he was making -- asking for the propofol, you should have walked away. he'll try to counter that or his defense will counter that saying he was with jackson because he cared for him. it will be up to the jury to decide which way to go. opening obviously very important but this is going to be a 30-day plus trial. there's a lot of testimony to listen to. >> who is the first person scheduled to take the stand? >> reporter: kenny ortega, the producer of "this is it." the guy responsible for getting michael jackson ready to perform those concerts in london that were scheduled and the prosecution will use him to establish that jack on was in good health in the days before his de

we begin where randi left off, with the dr. conrad murray trial. we just heard that they took a recess. we're going to move on and go to dr. sanjay gupta who is in los angeles for this trial. from what i understand, you have talked to sources close to the defense team. what did they tell you? >> reporter: well, it was pretty remarkable, actually. they talked specifically about the fact that up until a couple of days before michael jackson died, that he was still getting procedures, three to four procedures, they say, a week on his face. they were really tifl minor procedures but he was on demerol. that demerol, as he was coming off of it, was acting as a stimulant. it breaks down as a stimulant and that stimulant was really very much keeping him awake. and that is why he needed all of these other medications to help him sleep. what i thought was even more remarkable, they were talking about this idea that on the day this happened, they say conrad murray did give propofol, this medication that we've been talking about, and then observed michael jack

dr. murray is now facing manslaughter charges and was by the pop star's side when he died two years ago. today, the man who dialed 911 describes the first frantic moments before calling for help, the moment he says murray wasted cleaning up empty drug vials. also, jurors heard about jackson's oldest children walking in on the scene, and we got glimpses of paris' look at her dying dad. >> reporter: as michael jackson lay dying, this man told the jury conrad murray was directing him to put the drugs away. alberto alvarez telephoned that while they waited for paramedics murray was on cleanup patrol. >> i was standing at the foot of the bed. he reached over and grabbed a handful of vials and then he reached out to me and said, "here, put these in a bag." >> and when you removed the saline bag from the iv stand, was this the type? >> yes, sir. it was at my eye level and i was able to notice that at the bottom of the bag, there was what appeared to me like a milky white substance. >> reporter:

again thshgs is the trial of dr. conrad murray. his houston cardiologist charged with involuntary manslaughter. we want to take a listen to sound played in the courtroom. this is michael jackson -- possibly, possibly under the influence of propofol. take a listen. when people leave my show i want them to say "i've never seen nothing like this in my life. go. go. i've never seen nothing like this. go. it's amazing. he's the greatest entertainer in the world. i'm taking that money, a million on. >> again, some sound that was just played inside that los angeles courtroom as the trial for dr. conrad murray has gotten under way there. opening statements are being made right now. we expect the first witness to take the stand in a few hours and we will, of course, continue to follow that trial and lots more here on msnbc. i'll see you right back here at noon eastern, tomorrow, 9:00 a.m. out west. up next, "andrea mitchell reports." [ male announcer ] to the 5:00 a.m. scholar. the two trains and a bus rider. the "i'll sleep when it's done"

and dr. murray asked him to do something else first. a critical request prosecutors contend shows dr. murray's guilt. >> he reached over and grabbed a handful of vials. and then, he reached out to me and said, here. put these in a bag. >> reporter: then, alvarez said that murray pointed to an i.v. bag and ask that that be put away. in that bag was a milky white appearance. >>> and the clock is ticking down on the amanda knox case in perugia, italy. the defense has wrapped up its final arguments, insisting that knox was wrongfully convicted of murder and there's no evidence against her. today, prosecutors will have a chance to offer a rebuttal. then, on monday, amanda knox will deliver her own personal statement to the court when she will ask to be set free. >>> nba players and owners get together today, in a last-ditch effort to ensure that the basketball season will start on time. both sides are committed to talking through the weekend if that's what it takes. but they're still far apart on two, big issues. salaries and the players' gu

dr. conrad murray could get four years in prison or lose his medical license. dr. sanjay gupta has information on the defense team's strategy. we'll also talk to mark geragos and marcia clark. >>> also ahead, sarah palin is threatening a lawsuit. she's not happy about a new book about her and her family. details on that coming up. hard for their clients' futures. never taking a bailout. helping generations achieve dreams. buy homes. put their kids through college. retire how they want to. ameriprise. the strength of america's largest financial planning company. the heart of 10,000 advisors working with you, one-to-one. together, for your future. ♪ >>> more on day two of the michael jackson death trial. the prosecution zeroing in on the minutes that are crucial to their case. they called two key witnesses who described dr. murray's words and actions on the day michael jackson died. they recounted a scene of panic, chaos that left jackson's kids in tears. their testimony also raised questions the defense will have to address. dr. sanjay gupta has some inside inform

murray asks him to do something else. a critical request, prosecutors contend, shows dr. murray's guilt. >> he reached over and grabbed a handful of vials and reached out to me and said, "put these in a bag." >> reporter: then alvarez says dr. murray pointed to the iv bag and asked that it, too, be put away. inside that bag was a bottle, dripping a milky, white liquid, with the appearance of propofol. just how valuable was that testimony? alvarez says he turned down a half million dollars for a tv interview, $200,000 from "the national enquirer," though he hasn't been able to find a job since michael jackson died. and he's broke. diane? >> all right, jim, thank you, on this case every day. >>> and tonight, we hear from a unique american voice, someone who has had a front row seat to democracy. retired supreme court justice john paul stevens. he has written a new memoir, "five chiefs," and "gma" anchor george stephanopoulos sat down with him to ask, if after 60 years on the bench, he regrets any of the decisions he handed down, and he does. the one voting to reinstate the

murray said he just lost consciousness and they asked dr. murray if michael jackson was taking anything and he told them no, craig. >> one of the things yesterday that was particularly striking to me, at least, was when we heard a description of the kids watching their father die after the overdose out there. how emotional was that inside the courtroom? >> reporter: well, we all remember seeing the children at michael jackson's memorial service and they were there on the day he died so yesterday faheem mohamed talked about what he saw when he got to the bedroom. he said it appeared to him like conrad murray was nervous, performing cpr and also talked about what he saw from the children. take a listen. >> paris was on the ground balled up crying and prince was just standing there and he was just -- he just had a real shock -- just slowly crying type of look on his face. >> reporter: michael's son prince is on the witness list. it's still unclear whether or not he will testify. the children have not been here although the rest of michael's fam

he described a frantic scene and said dr. conrad murray kept vital information secret. abc's jim avila, following every dramatic moment in court. >> i need an ambulance as soon as possible, sir. >> reporter: and they got it. four los angeles paramedics roll up to the front gates of michael jackson's mansion, just five minutes later. but when they get upstairs to jackson's private quarters, they find dr. murray and a lifeless michael jackson. >> the patient was wearing a surgical cap or something similar, covering his hair. and he appeared to be underweight, to me. >> reporter: richard senneff said michael jackson was cold to the touch. and his partner says -- >> he was not breathing. he was not moving. and his eyes was fixed and dilated. >> did you have an opinion as to whether or not mr. jackson was alive? >> i felt he was dead, ma'am. >> reporter: richard senneff says dr. murray tells him he's treating jackson for dehydration and exhaustion and nothing else. when asked about what drugs jackson might be taking, never mentions propofol, that killed him. >> he said no, h

dr. murray now facing manslaughter charges was by the pop star's side when he died two years ago. today the man who dialed 911 describes the first frantic moments before calling for help. the moment he says murray wasted cleaning up empty drug vials. also, jurors heard about jackson's oldest children walking in on the scene, and we got glixss of paris' look at her dying dad. >> reporter: as michael jackson lay dying, this man told the jury conrad murray was directing him to put the drugs away. alberto alvarez telephoned that while they waited for paramedics murray was on cleanup patrol. >> i was standing at the foot of the bed. he reached over and grabbed a handful of vials and then he reached out to me and said, here, put these in a bag. >> and when you removed the saline bag from the i.v. stand, was this the type? >> yes, sir. it was at my eye level and i was able to notice that at the bottom of the bag there was what appeared to me like a many milky white substance. >> reporter: a milky white substance. remember, jackson liked to call propofol his milk. that was the powerful an

he felt abandoned by dr. murray, but he said dr. murray saved his life. >> live outside the courtroom. joining me now is john byrd who was part of the team who won the jury award for rodney king. thank you for your time. you have a paramedic saying the situation did not make sense when he got there. he is asking conrad murray what medication fist any was michael jackson taking or under the influence of. what story is the prosecution paint something. >> they are trying to demonstrate that dr. murray in fact was engaged in a cover up at the outset instead of being candid. he knew that the drugs he given he should not have been given in the setting he was involved in. he was trying to gather up everything and put it aside and not allow them to really see the type of medication that was given. at the same time he was given the impression that he was working hard to revive michael jackson when it looks like it was too late already and he didn't communicate effectively the status of michael jackson. it appeared to be a cover up going on v

. >> audio was from dr. murray's cell phone. he's accused of giving jackson a lethal dose of a powerful anesthetic. jackson died at the age of 50. his family appeared in court today. diana avellar has more. >> reporter: one trial, two men. the victim the world's biggest superstar, michael jackson. the defendant his personal physician, dr. conrad murray. all that is certain is that jackson died from a fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol. prosecutors wasted no time telling the court who was to blame. >> i was dr. murray's repeated, incompetent and unskilled acts that lead to mr. jackson's death. >> reporter: murray's attorney disagree, claiming it was jackson himself. experts say it is possible. >> not at all i am plausible, in my opinion that he -- implausible, in my opinion he could have pushed an injection in that port and kill himself. >> reporter: first on the stand choreographer, kenny ortega. expected to testify dr. murray brushed off his concerns that jackson looked ill and weak telling him the star's health was

. >> did you, upon hearing that message, call dr. murray? >> yes, sir. >> did he ask you to call 911? >> no, sir. >> reporter: in court, williams was also asked about murray's strange behavior at the hospital, as news spread that the king of pop was dead. >> what, if anything, was the request of conrad murray? >> he said that there's some cream in michael's room or house, i believe room, that he wouldn't want the world to know about and he requested that i or someone give him a ride back to the house. >> did you agree to take conrad murray back to the house? >> no, sir. >> reporter: williams told the court he was so spooked by murray's behavior, he asked jackson's security to lock up the house and not allow murray back inside. but defense attorney ed chernoff pointed out williams waited months before showing his concerns with authorities. >> mr. williams, the very first time you told the police about dr. murray wanting to get some cream was august 31st, 2009, correct? >> yes, sir. >> this was over two months after michael jackson had died? >