Conrad Murray Trial: Doctor of Death or Victim of Circumstance?

Murray, 58, is being charged with involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors charge that Murray gave Jackson a lethal dose of propofol, a sedative that Jackson used as a sleep aid. Jackson then suffered a heart attack and died on June 25, 2009 at 50 years old.

At 12:27PM the prosecution gave its opening statement, according to the USA Today live blog. In the statement it charged that Murray repeatedly acted with gross negligence, repeatedly denied care appropriate to his patient... and Murray's repeated incompetent and unskilled acts that led toMr. Jackson's death.

Prosecuters used the photograph of Jackson lying dead on the hospital bed to begin the trial.

The entire Jackson family has gathered to attend the trial.

Jackson's oldest children, Prince and Paris, want to testify, according to the Daily Mail.

Dr. Conrad Murray acted as Jackson's cardiologist. The defense will contend that Michael Jackson administered the final lethal dose to himself. They will stress that Jackson was an addict; addicted to the painkillers that ultimately killed him.

The cocktail of drugs that Jackson supposedly took each day was:

• Demerol: Injected twice daily

• Vistaril: Injected twice daily
• Dilaudid: 3 mg. twice daily
• Xanax: 250mg
• Zoloft: 100mg
• Ritalin: 10mg
• Prozac: 20mg
• Prilosec: (unknown)

This trial will most likely shed light on some of the darkest corners of Jackson's life, particularly his use of prescription painkillers. Jurors were given a 32-page questionnaire, including queries such as if they believed celebrities received special treatment and whether a doctor had refused to prescribe medication they had requested.

Murray was paid $150,000 per month for his services to the star. It is now the state's duty to prove the case of celebrity doctoring, says Tanya M. Acker of the Huffington Post.

Before he died in mid-2009, Jackson was hard at work preparing for the This Is It concert series, what was supposed to be his final performance.