Katherine Jackson left court in tears during Jacksons V AEG trial.

by WeAreTheWorld. Sat May 25, 2013 12:29 am

Katherine Jackson left court in tears during civil trial over Michael Jackson's death

By: Nancy Dillon
5/23/2013

Michael Jackson’s mother left a courtroom in tears Thursday as lawyers dissected emails related to her son’s fragile physical and emotional state shortly before his fatal overdose in June 2009.

Katherine Jackson, the family’s 83-year-old matriarch, has been stoic throughout most of the civil trial in Los Angeles, which pits her and the Gloved One’s children against concert giant AEG Live, the firm that was behind the singer’s ill-fated comeback tour.

But on Thursday, Katherine Jackson reached a breaking point, her lawyer said.

“It was pretty upsetting for her. She hadn’t seen a lot of that stuff,” lawyer Brian Panish told the Daily News.

The emails, previously reported by The News, focused on concerns felt by tour director Kenny Ortega after Michael appeared weak and disoriented at a rehearsal on June 19, 2009, less than a week before his death.

Katherine Jackson is suing AEG for negligence, claiming the company failed to properly investigate and supervise the doctor hired to care for her son in connection with the doomed “This Is It” concert series.

The physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, is now serving four years in prison after he was convicted of manslaughter for recklessly treating Jackson’s insomnia with the surgery-strength anesthetic Propofol — the drug that caused his overdose.

AEG has denied any wrongdoing, saying Jackson personally hired Murray and then carefully hid his Propofol use behind a “locked” door.

Katherine Jackson was not in the courtroom later Thursday when Panish revealed a new email from John (Bugsy) Houghdahl, the stage manager for “This Is It,” in which he expressed worry over Jackson’s condition on June 19 — and even suggested that the legend who popularized The Moonwalk, one of the most famous dances in entertainment history, couldn’t pull off a simple dance step.

“My laymen’s degree tells me (Michael) needs a shrink to get him mentally prepared to get on stage and then a trainer to get him in physical shape,” Houghdahl wrote to AEG boss Randy Phillips shortly before 11 p.m.

“I have watched him deteriorate in front of my eyes over the last eight weeks,” he wrote. “He was able to do multiple 360 (-degree) spins back in April. He’d fall on his a-- if he tried it now.”

Panish grilled AEG General Counsel Shawn Trell over several emails related to that night, suggesting that the “eight weeks” Houghdahl referred to coincided with the start of Dr. Murray’s employment with the tour.

AEG lawyer Jessica Stebbins Bina returned to the Houghdahl email during cross-examination, asking Trell if Houghdahl raised any specific concerns about “medications” or “anesthesia.”

Trell said he wasn’t aware of any.

“What was his suggestion for Mr. Jackson?” she asked.

“Something about him (getting help to be) mentally prepared and getting a trainer to get him physically in shape,” Trell replied.

“Did Mr. Jackson die from being sick?” she asked.

“No,” Trell replied.

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by midangerous Sat May 25, 2013 4:14 am

by **Admin** Sat May 25, 2013 11:00 am

I think KJ should really pick carefully the days to attend and not to attend this trial. She has her attorneys to report to her when she isn't there and she can also get transcripts from them on a daily basis if she chooses not to attend. She really needs to guard her health and wellbeing carefully and mind her stress level. God be with KJ and the entire J-Fam.

by WeAreTheWorld. Sat May 25, 2013 1:33 pm

I agree 100% admin. Her health should come first over all of this no matter what.

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Katherine Jackson left court in tears during Jacksons V AEG trial.

Katherine Jackson left court in tears during Jacksons V AEG trial.

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