Jackson 'very happy' on night of death
Michael Jackson was in good spirits at a rehearsal on the night before he died, a bodyguard testified today.
"He was very happy," Alberto Alvarez said. "I do recall he was in very good spirits."
Mr Alvarez was the first person to reach Jackson's bedroom after his doctor urgently called for help on June 25, 2009.
He was expected to testify later today about the actions of defendant Dr Conrad Murray, including his claim that the physician told him to stash vials of medicine before calling 911.
Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson's death.
Prosecutors have been calling witnesses who were with Jackson and Murray the day the singer died.
Authorities accuse Murray of giving Jackson a lethal dose of the anaesthetic propofol in the bedroom.
Prosecutors are calling key witnesses in an attempt to show jurors that Murray delayed calling authorities on the day the King of Pop was found lifeless and was intent on concealing indications that he had been giving the singer doses of the surgical anaesthetic.
The jury has already had a glimpse into the entertainer's inner sanctum through photos and testimony.
In testimony during a preliminary hearing earlier this year, Mr Alvarez said Murray ordered him to stash away vials of medicine and an intravenous bag before calling police. Jackson, his eyes and mouth open, appeared to be dead, he said.
Mr Alvarez's testimony will likely be challenged by Murray's defence lawyers, who on Wednesday questioned Jackson's head of security and the singer's personal assistant about why they did not reveal certain details about the day Jackson died to police for at least two months.
Defence lawyer Ed Chernoff asked Faheem Muhammad and Michael Amir Williams about whether they conferred with Alvarez before their interviews with detectives.
Williams, who was Jackson's personal assistant, said his interview with detectives had been delayed. He testified Wednesday that he received an urgent phone call from Murray on the day of Jackson's death but wasn't told to call police.
He called Mr Muhammad, who then dispatched Mr Alvarez to Jackson's bedroom on the second floor of the singer's rented mansion in the wealthy Holmby Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles.
The room was off-limits to Jackson's staff, and Mr Muhammad paused before racing up the stairs after reaching the mansion just before paramedics arrived.
He described a heart-wrenching scene. By then, he said, Jackson had been removed from his bed and was on the floor, where Murray, sweaty and frantic, was performing CPR.
Mr Alvarez was pacing nervously, Mr Muhammad told the jury. When he saw Jackson up close, he understood why.
"What did you observe about his face," prosecutor David Walgren asked
"That his eyes were open," Muhammad said. "That his mouth was slightly open."
"Did he appear to be dead," Walgren asked.
"Yes."
The bodyguard soon noticed that Jackson's children, Prince and Paris, had gathered by the doorway.
"Paris was on the ground, balled up crying," Mr Muhammad said. He ushered the children out of the room, and then into a sport utility vehicle so they could follow the ambulance to the hospital.
