Conrad Murray Trial Recap: Coroner’s Office Accused Of Making Mistakes
Oct. 6 2011, Published 7:38 a.m. ET
The Los Angeles County Coroner's investigator who examined Michael Jackson’s body and bedroom has been accused of making “mistakes”.
Elissa Fleak was questioned in Los Angeles Superior Court Thursday by lawyers acting for Dr. Conrad Murray – who is accused of the involuntary manslaughter of the singer in June 2009 – and was quizzed by defense attorney Ed Chernoff on some of her atypical practices.
After saying she always destroys her investigation notes, Elissa admitted she failed to dispose of her documents from a second trip to Michael’s house on June 29, four days after his death.
She said she kept the notes because it was unusual to require a second trip to an investigation scene, to which Chernoff asked: "Would you agree with me that you made a substantial number of mistakes in investigating this case?"
Fleak said: “No.”
The investigator also admitted she had picked up a bottle of Flumazenil from the floor of the Thriller hitmaker’s bedroom before taking photographs and said she apparently left a partial fingerprint on a syringe found in the room.
Noting she usually wears gloves, she said: "I found out about the fingerprint later.”
Explaining she thought the fingerprint may have transferred as tables were moved around the room, she added: "I don't remember if I was wearing gloves when the tables were moved.”
Chernoff asked her: "You don't consider any of that a mistake?” but she responded “no”.
Later in the day, Jurors were shown a picture of a child sized porcelain doll, which was dressed in green dungarees and had blonde curly hair lying next to a CD player in Jackson’s bedroom.
The court was also shown a police photograph of ornate dinner plates featuring babies’ faces – believed to be those of the star’s three children – displayed on a chest of drawers alongside family pictures.
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Also shown to the court today was the official toxicology report of tests carried out on Michael’s body after his death from acute Propofol intoxication on June 25, 2009.
The document showed the star had six legal substances in his system, Propofol (Diprivan), Lidocaine, Diazepam (Valium), Lorazepam (Ativan), Midazolam (Versed), and Ephedrine.
Giving evidence to the court, toxicologist Dan Anderson said that, out of all the substances found, Jackson had the least amount of Propofol actually in his stomach.
Anderson said he found only trace amounts of the drug – the equivalent of a few specks of sugar.
Murray denies administering the fatal dose of Propofol that killed his famous patient. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison.
The case continues.
You can watch the trial live as it unfolds, here on RadarOnline.com.
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