Lawyer: Jackson was found with pulse

Lawyer: Jackson was found with pulse
An attorney for the singer's physician also denies that the doctor gave Jackson drugs that contributed to his death.
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY
The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson still had a faint pulse and his body was warm when his doctor found him in bed and not breathing, a lawyer for the doctor told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Edward Chernoff also said Dr. Conrad Murray never prescribed or gave Jackson the drugs Demerol or OxyContin. He denied reports suggesting Murray gave Jackson drugs that contributed to his death.

Chernoff said Murray was at the pop icon's rented mansion Thursday afternoon when he discovered Jackson in bed and not breathing. The doctor immediately began administering CPR, Chernoff said.

"He just happened to find him in his bed, and he wasn't breathing," the lawyer said. "Mr. Jackson was still warm and had a pulse."

Three days after the death of the King of Pop, celebrities descended Sunday on Los Angeles for a celebration of Jackson's life at the annual BET awards show.

In a statement read at the show by their publicist, Jackson's parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson, said they solely had the personal and legal "authority for our son and his children." It was their strongest declaration yet about their son's affairs.

The family also thanked everyone around the world for the love and support they have received since Jackson's death.

People close to Michael Jackson have said since his death that they had been concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken unspecified prescription medication.

Chernoff said any drugs that the doctor gave Jackson were prescribed in response to a specific complaint from the entertainer.

"Dr. Murray has never prescribed nor administered Demerol to Michael Jackson," Chernoff said. "Not ever. Not that day. Not OxyContin (either) for that matter."

Paramedics were called to the mansion while the doctor was performing CPR, according to a recording of the 911 call.

Because Jackson was so frail, Murray "administered with his hand behind (Jackson's) back to provide the necessary support," Chernoff said. Some have speculated the doctor botched the CPR.

"He's a trained doctor," Chernoff said. "He knows how to administer CPR."

Medics spent three-quarters of an hour trying to revive Jackson. He was pronounced dead later at UCLA Medical Center.

Murray was interviewed by investigators for three hours Saturday. His spokeswoman said Murray was not a suspect in the death, and police described the doctor as cooperative.

The attorney said Murray will wait to speak publicly until after the police and forensics investigation is complete.

Chernoff also said the promoter of Jackson's 50-show London concerts, AEG Live, owes the cardiologist $300,000.

"His contract with the promoters states he would receive an amount of money each month to be his (Jackson's) personal physician and they have failed to honor that contract," Chernoff said. "They are two months behind."

Randy Phillips, president and CEO of AEG Live, acknowledged the contract called for Murray to be paid $150,000 a month, but he said the contract required Jackson's signature.

"Michael never signed the contract," Phillips said.

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