Joe Jackson, the controversial patriarch of one of entertainment’s most famous families, suffered a stroke Thursday and is being treated in a Las Vegas hospital. He “is in very good spirits” and expects to be discharged today. The mild stroke is similar to two others he suffered in the past five years, another source close to the 83-year-old Jackson said, and he should recover fully. Joe Jackson created and managed the Jackson 5, the legendary R&B-pop group made up of his sons, including the late and iconic Michael Jackson. Although he is still married to Jackson matriarch Katherine Jackson, they live separately. He has a home in Las Vegas, while his wife lives in Calabasas, Calif. Michael Jackson’s three children, Prince, Blanket and Paris Jackson , live with her. Despite his age, Jackson remains active in developing and promoting several businesses and products … sometimes pulling guns and causing drama here and there. Get well soon Joe.
Jury took nearly nine hours to return a verdict against Jackson’s former doctor. By Gil Kaufman Michael Jackson Photo: Getty Images After nearly six weeks of testimony and several gasp-inducing courtroom moments, the jury in the involuntary manslaughter trial against former Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray rendered a guilty verdict Monday (November 7) after almost nine hours of deliberation. The verdict came after 49 witnesses took the stand and the prosecution presented often-bruising testimony against Murray, a cardiologist with clinics in Texas and Las Vegas who was recruited in 2009 by Jackson to help the then-50-year-old star stay healthy in the run-up to his planned 50-date comeback tour, This Is It . The prosecution brought a long list of medical experts and emergency-room doctors to the stand to testify that Murray had not followed proper procedure in dealing with Jackson when the singer was in distress on the morning of June 25, 2009. They also presented evidence that the care Murray provided for Jackson in the weeks and months leading up to that fateful morning were substandard or outside the bounds of legal and ethical requirements. The witnesses concluded that Murray lacked the proper monitoring equipment to administer the surgical anesthetic propofol to Jackson, an off-label use of the intravenously delivered drug that was reportedly employed to help chronic insomniac Jackson get to sleep. Investigators found that Murray ordered nearly 4 gallons of propofol in his treatment regimen for Jackson and administered the drug inside the singer’s rented home, a practice that all the prosecution experts said was unheard of. Jurors also heard testimony about how Murray left Jackson’s bedroom for a period after providing him with propofol and spent his time making calls and sending texts to a former girlfriend. When he realized Jackson was in distress, Murray gave the pop star CPR on a bed, a decision that also deviated from the suggested method requiring a hard surface under the patient. Murray was additionally faulted for waiting more than 20 minutes to call 911, not keeping proper records and failing to tell the paramedics and ER doctors that he had given Jackson propofol. While prosecution witnesses claimed Murray acted with “gross negligence” in treating Jackson, the physician’s own team of lawyers countered with a string of defense witnesses who called into question claims made by Jackson’s bodyguard that he requested that staffers hide bottles of propofol before he dialed 911. Other character witnesses testified to the generous, attentive nature of Murray’s medical practice, while expert defense witnesses cast doubt on the theories about Jackson’s death provided by the prosecution’s star witness, Dr. Steven Shafer . Murray, who was slated to make $150,000 a month to care for Jackson, had pleaded not guilty to the single felony charge and is now facing four years in prison. But new sentencing laws in California aimed at mandatorily reducing state prison overcrowding mean that, as a nonviolent offender with no prior record, he is likely to be sentenced to county jail instead. If that is the case, his sentence could be reduced further. He also still faces a civil lawsuit brought by MJ’s father, Joseph Jackson , which seeks financial restitution. Both Joseph Jackson and Michael’s mother, Katherine, were on hand to hear Monday’s verdict, along with several of the singer’s siblings and a throng of sign-waving fans gathered in support of both Jackson and Murray. Agree With The Verdict? Was Justice Served? Tell Us On Facebook! MTV News will be covering the Conrad Murray case live. Go to MTVNews.com for breaking news, reactions and analysis from Los Angeles or tune to MTV for the latest updates. Celebrate the life and legacy of Michael Jackson tonight at 9 p.m ET/PT when VH1 presents the World Broadcast premiere of “Michael Jackson’s This Is It.” Related Videos Michael Jackson’s Former Doctor Found Guilty Related Photos Michael Jackson: A Life In Photos Related Artists Michael Jackson
Dr. Arnold Klein, Michael Jackson’s close friend, has come out swinging against Joe Jackson, claiming Michael’s father is a guy who cares only about money. Klein was responding to claims Joe made about Michael’s mother and how Katherine was responsible for Michael’s death when he told TMZ the following: “Michael was very close to Katherine, but Joe talked to him too, but all Joe ever wanted to talk about was business. Everything Joe utters is nonsensical.” Pretty much. Joe claims that he warned his estranged wife about Michael’s failing health last year, but she was afraid of violating his privacy and refused to intervene. Dr. Arnie Klein, left, and Michael Jackson’s father Joe . Arnie has made numerous headlines in the past year, first as the rumored biological father of Michael’s children, then more recently for backing up Jason Pfeiffer’s claim that Michael Jackson was gay and that Pfeiffer had an affair with him. Now, however, the singer’s confidant and former dermatologist is growing increasingly tired of all things Michael and wishes he could finally rest in peace. Klein says he’s over the drama: “I’m no longer interested in the Sodom and Gomorrah show on Havenhurst (the family home). My main concern is the welfare of the children, especially Michael’s, and the preservation of Michael’s memory.”
Criticism of West’s interruption of Taylor Swift’s speech continues. By MTV News staff Kanye West and Taylor Swift at the 2009 Video Music Awards Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic While he’s all for beauty queens expressing their opinions at pageants, if there’s one thing Donald Trump can’t stand it’s rudeness.
