LOS ANGELES: A coroner's investigator has testified she found 12 bottles of a powerful anaesthetic that contributed to the death of Michael Jackson in his bedroom after he died.
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Investigator Elissa Fleak said nine of the bottles were found in a closet in a bag labelled ''Baby Essentials''. Syringes and other medications were also found during a search of Jackson's rented mansion four days after his death on June 25, 2009, she said.
Ms Fleak was the first investigator to describe in detail the items authorities recovered from Jackson's bedroom. She testified on the fourth day of a preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for Dr Conrad Murray to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter. He has pleaded not guilty.
Authorities contend Jackson died after Dr Murray gave him a lethal dose of propofol and other sedatives in the bedroom then delayed calling 911 while he collected medications.
Ms Fleak said she found six vials of the painkiller lidocaine, as well as other prescription medications and syringes, including two found next to Jackson's bed.
During cross-examination by the defence, Ms Fleak was asked whether someone of Jackson's height and build could have reached some of the items from the bed. A judge did not allow the investigator to answer that question, but Ms Fleak did say several of the items, including a used bottle of propofol and syringe, were within 60cm of the singer's bed.
Murray's lawyer J. Michael Flanagan asked Ms Fleak whether she checked to see how much liquid remained in each of the vials. ''There were so many vials, I don't remember which ones were more full or less full,'' Ms Fleak said.
Ms Fleak was told to search the room after detectives interviewed Dr Murray and he disclosed he injected Jackson with propofol and gave him several other medications before his death, court records state.
Earlier in the day, a former girlfriend of Dr Murray testified he had been distracted when he called her on the morning of the singer's death, and she heard commotion in the background. Witness Sade Anding said she realised at one point Dr Murray wasn't paying attention to her. She heard coughing and mumbling but didn't recognise the voice as his, she said.
''I heard commotion as if the phone was in a pocket or something,'' Ms Anding said.
The testimony added details to a timeline being developed by prosecutors at a hearing.
Phone records show Dr Murray called Ms Anding at 11.51am. She said she stayed on the line for five to six minutes, but Dr Murray never got back on the phone. The records indicate 911 was dialled at 12.21pm.
Prosecutors called Dr Murray's girlfriend Nicole Alvarez and asked about shipments he had sent to her apartment from a Las Vegas pharmacy. Ms Alvarez acknowledged receiving packages for Dr Murray but said she never looked inside.
Authorities have said they believe the doctor was having shipments of propofol and other medications used by Jackson sent to Ms Alvarez. It is unusual to send propofol to a private home but not illegal.
The phone records show Dr Murray called Ms Alvarez from the ambulance. The hearing resumes tomorrow.
Associated Press
