Update 11:55 a.m.
After the prosecution recalled its star witness — propofol expert Dr. Steven Shafer — back to the stand to address some of the issues raised by defense propofol expert Dr. Paul White, both the prosecution and defense teams in the Conrad Murray trial have rested their cases.
Judge Pastor dismissed the jury until Thursday morning, when both sides will present their closing arguments, and the trial should be in the hands of the jury by the end of the week.
Previously …
Update 10:27 a.m.
HLN reports Conrad Murray has told Judge Pastor he will not take the witness stand in his trial.
Previously …
Conrad Murray is considering taking the witness stand in his own defense, and Judge Michael Pastor has given him until Tuesday morning to announce his decision.
CNN.com reports that if Murray does not decide to take the stand, his defense team could rest its case today. That would mean closing arguments would likely happen on Thursday and the involuntary manslaughter trial would then go to the jury.
Read more: Conrad Murray Trial: Prosecutor Tears Into Defense Expert
The Los Angeles County coroner ruled Michael Jackson died of "acute propofol intoxication," and that sedatives were also a factor. Prosecutors contend Murray is criminally liable for Jackson's June 25, 2009 death because he recklessly administered the propofol, a potent surgical anesthetic drug, and was negligent in properly monitoring Jackson.
A decision by Murray to testify would open him up to what could be a brutal cross-examination by prosecutor David Walgren.
Walgren cross-examined key defense witness Dr. Paul White, an anesthesiologist, on Monday, in an aggressive session that ended with a possible $1,000 fine and contempt of court charge for White.
The defense's propofol expert continued to try to refer to private conversations with Conrad Murray while answering Walgren's questions, and the judge repeatedly told him not to. White also testified that he felt Murray had deviated from how a doctor should perform, but reiterated that he thinks Jackson gave his fatal dose to himself.
Read more: Michael Jackson's Fatal Bid for Normal Life Emerges at Trial
Murray faces up to four years in prison and the loss of his medical license if convicted, though a new California law could mean his sentence would be reduced to two years and be served in a county jail.
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