Shocking new details are being uncovered about Michael Jackson’s last days during the trial involving the promotion company hired for his This Is It tour, AEG Live, and the Jackson family, who claims they should be held responsible for hiring and managing Dr. Conrad Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson’s death.
Kenny Ortega, the tour director, testified on Wednesday that he and associate producer Alif Sankey feared that Jackson was dying due to his frail appearance and odd behavior in the last few rehearsals.
"God keeps talking to me,” Ortega testified that Jackson said, CNN reports. He also said that during the June 19, 2009 rehearsal, he appeared "extremely thin" and "was not speaking normally.” The jury was able to then see a photo of a frail Jackson from that day.
Sarkey said she was driving home and had to pull over as she was overwhelmed with emotion. She said she called Ortega "because I had a very strong feeling that Michael was dying." She explained, "I was screaming into the phone at that point. I said he needs to be put in the hospital now."
“I kept saying that 'Michael is dying, he's dying, he's leaving us, he needs to be put in a hospital,'" Sankey continued, The LA Times reports. "'Please do something. Please, please.' I kept saying that. I asked him why no one had seen what I had seen. He said he didn't know."
This prompted a meeting between the two and AEG Live President Randy Phillips at Jackson’s home with Murray. In an email exchange, Phillips said he was “gaining immense respect” for Murray. “This doctor is extremely successful (we check everyone out) and does not need this gig, so he (is) totally unbiased and ethical," he wrote.
The day before he died, on the June 24, 2009 rehearsal, Jackson sang "Thriller" and "Earth Song" on stage. “He didn't look good," Sarkey said. "I asked him if he was cold, and he said 'Yes.'"