The preliminary hearings in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, the doctor charged with manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson, have only begun — but there have already been a few bombshell revelations and allegations.

Michael Jackson Immortalized

According to Los Angeles District Attorney David Walgren, the prosecutor in the case, 20 minutes passed from the time Murray found Jackson not breathing in his bed until when a member of the singer's security team called paramedics. Walgren says that Murray occupied that time by having a security guard assist him in collecting incriminating medical evidence.

Michael Jackson Remembered

Murray was hired to care for Jackson during rehearsals for his This Is It concert series, which would have debuted in July of last year. As it turns out, Jackson was in very bad health at the time. Choreographer Kenny Ortega, who worked closely with Jackson on the project and directed a documentary titled This Is It from the rehearsal footage, testified that the pop icon was too ill to perform in the days before his death in June 2009.

Michael Jackson's Funeral

Strangely, Ortega says that Murray objected to his suggestion that Jackson take a break from rehearsal during his sickness, and confronted the choreographer at a meeting, challenging the notion that he was not healthy enough to perform.

The hearings in the trial will continue through this week.

Prosecutors claim Jackson doctor acted too slowly [Reuters]
Michael Jackson was too ill to perform, says choreographer [Guardian UK]

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