Los Angeles:
Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray said today he has decided not to testify in his own defence, at the climax of his manslaughter trial over the star's 2009 death.
"My decision is that I will not testify in this matter," he told judge Michael Pastor during a break in the trial at Los Angeles Superior court, which is due to finish within
days.
Most observers have assumed that Murray, whose account of Jackson's death was given in a two-hour interview with police, would not testify as it could only harm his case.
That point of view was bolstered on Monday when prosecutor David Walgren staged a forensic cross-examination picking apart the testimony of the defence's star witness, Doctor Paul White, which he could repeat on Murray in the dock.
But others argued that given how many holes prosecutors have picked in his defence case, the doctor -- who has sat in grim silence for the last five weeks -- could decide to appeal directly to the jury.
The TMZ celebrity news website had reported that Murray's defence lawyers, Ed Chernoff and Michael Flanagan, were split over whether he should take the stand.
Chernoff, who has battled to defend his client against a powerful prosecution case, believed Murray should not stand, while his assistant counsel Flanagan thought the doctor should, the website said.
Murray, asked by judge Pastor whether he had made his decision "freely and voluntarily," replied simply: "Yes."
Murray had surprised observers at the end of Monday's hearings, saying he had not yet decided whether to testify. "I will still need more time. I have not made my decision. It depends on the progress of the trial," he said.
Judge Michael Pastor told Murray last week that the final decision over whether to testify is his.
"You have an absolute individual constitutional right to testify... if you want to testify you will testify even if somebody did counsel you not to," he said last Wednesday.
Murray's decision was announced shortly after the defence's star witness Dr. White stood down after being hammered by prosecutor Walgren for a second day, after his
grilling Monday.
The defence was expected to formally rest its case shortly after the announcement.
"My decision is that I will not testify in this matter," he told judge Michael Pastor during a break in the trial at Los Angeles Superior court, which is due to finish within
days.
Most observers have assumed that Murray, whose account of Jackson's death was given in a two-hour interview with police, would not testify as it could only harm his case.
That point of view was bolstered on Monday when prosecutor David Walgren staged a forensic cross-examination picking apart the testimony of the defence's star witness, Doctor Paul White, which he could repeat on Murray in the dock.
But others argued that given how many holes prosecutors have picked in his defence case, the doctor -- who has sat in grim silence for the last five weeks -- could decide to appeal directly to the jury.
The TMZ celebrity news website had reported that Murray's defence lawyers, Ed Chernoff and Michael Flanagan, were split over whether he should take the stand.
Chernoff, who has battled to defend his client against a powerful prosecution case, believed Murray should not stand, while his assistant counsel Flanagan thought the doctor should, the website said.
Murray, asked by judge Pastor whether he had made his decision "freely and voluntarily," replied simply: "Yes."
Murray had surprised observers at the end of Monday's hearings, saying he had not yet decided whether to testify. "I will still need more time. I have not made my decision. It depends on the progress of the trial," he said.
Judge Michael Pastor told Murray last week that the final decision over whether to testify is his.
"You have an absolute individual constitutional right to testify... if you want to testify you will testify even if somebody did counsel you not to," he said last Wednesday.
Murray's decision was announced shortly after the defence's star witness Dr. White stood down after being hammered by prosecutor Walgren for a second day, after his
grilling Monday.
The defence was expected to formally rest its case shortly after the announcement.
