Faheem Muhammad, Michael Jackson's Chief of Security, took the stand this afternoon and told his version of events the day Jackson died, June 25, 2009. During direct examination, Prosecutor David Walgren walked Muhammad through those crucial moments when Muhammad was summoned to Jackson's bedroom and saw Dr. Conrad Murray performing CPR on Jackson. Muhammad testified that when he made it to Jackson's bedroom, he already seemed dead because Jackson's mouth and eyes were open.
Muhammad also testified that in the chaos of trying to revive Jackson, he saw two of the pop star's children in the corner of the room. They appeared traumatized: Jackson's daughter Paris was curled up in a ball crying and his oldest son Prince was shocked and teary. Muhammad said that when he arrived in the room, Murray was sweating and asked if anyone knew CPR.
On cross-examination, defense attorney Ed Chernoff focused on diffusing suggestions that Dr. Murray was trying to get back to the house shortly after Jackson was pronounced dead so that he could remove incriminating evidence.
Muhammad and Jackson's assistant, Michael Amir Williams, testified that Dr. Murray asked to be taken back to Jackson's home soon after Jackson was declared dead at the hospital, telling them he felt he had to retrieve creams that could potentially embarrass the pop star.
Muhammad and Williams agreed they would not let Murray return to the home, and Williams concocted the excuse that police had confiscated their keys.
Chernoff suggested that his client wanted to return to the house to retrieve his car.
He also explored the witness' knowledge of Jackson's visits to his dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein - who the defense has blamed for getting Jackson addicted to the painkiller Demerol.
Complete live coverage of the Conrad Murray trial airing on HLN from gavel to gavel and on In Session from 9a to 3p ET every week day.
