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Michael Jackson bodyguard: 'Conrad Murray told me to hide drugs'
Published Thursday, Sep 29 2011, 23:06 BST | By Tom Eames | 4 comments
Michael Jackson's former bodyguard has appeared in court to testify on day three of the Conrad Murray manslaughter trial.
Alberto Alvarez recalled seeing a saline bag containing a 125ml bottle of what appeared to be the powerful drug propofol in the moments leading up to Jackson's death.
"I recall that while I was detaching [the saline bag] from the IV stand, the bag was at my eye level so I was able to notice that there was a bottle inside the bag," he told the court.
"I was able to notice at the bottom of the bag what appeared to me like a milky white substance." He then confirmed that the item inside the bag was a propofol bottle.
Alvarez, who was the first person to discover Jackson unconscious after Murray tried to resuscitate him, claimed that Murray told him to put vials of medicine in a bag before calling 911. Alvarez said that he trusted Murray's actions as he was a doctor.
He explained: "When I came into the room, Dr Murray said, 'Alberto, hurry, we have to get to hospital, we have to get an ambulance'.
"In my personal experience, I believed Dr Murray had the best intentions for Mr Jackson. I didn't question his authority."
Watch Alberto Alvarez in the courtroom below:
He added that Jackson's children Paris and Prince Michael had entered the room shortly afterwards.
"Paris screamed out 'Daddy' and she was crying. Dr Murray said to me, 'Don't let them see their dad like this'. I ushered the children out and told them, 'Don't worry, we will take care of it, everything is going to be okay'."
The trial is scheduled to continue for five weeks, with Murray facing up to four years in prison if found guilty.
> Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray trial begins with haunting audio
> Michael Jackson doctor trial: Director Kenny Ortega 'feared' for singer
> Michael Jackson trial jury hear 'frantic' Conrad Murray phone call
Alberto Alvarez recalled seeing a saline bag containing a 125ml bottle of what appeared to be the powerful drug propofol in the moments leading up to Jackson's death.
© Rex Features
© Rex Features
"I recall that while I was detaching [the saline bag] from the IV stand, the bag was at my eye level so I was able to notice that there was a bottle inside the bag," he told the court.
"I was able to notice at the bottom of the bag what appeared to me like a milky white substance." He then confirmed that the item inside the bag was a propofol bottle.
Alvarez, who was the first person to discover Jackson unconscious after Murray tried to resuscitate him, claimed that Murray told him to put vials of medicine in a bag before calling 911. Alvarez said that he trusted Murray's actions as he was a doctor.
He explained: "When I came into the room, Dr Murray said, 'Alberto, hurry, we have to get to hospital, we have to get an ambulance'.
"In my personal experience, I believed Dr Murray had the best intentions for Mr Jackson. I didn't question his authority."
Watch Alberto Alvarez in the courtroom below:
He added that Jackson's children Paris and Prince Michael had entered the room shortly afterwards.
"Paris screamed out 'Daddy' and she was crying. Dr Murray said to me, 'Don't let them see their dad like this'. I ushered the children out and told them, 'Don't worry, we will take care of it, everything is going to be okay'."
The trial is scheduled to continue for five weeks, with Murray facing up to four years in prison if found guilty.
> Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray trial begins with haunting audio
> Michael Jackson doctor trial: Director Kenny Ortega 'feared' for singer
> Michael Jackson trial jury hear 'frantic' Conrad Murray phone call
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