New Email Claims There Is Link Between AEG And Michael Jackson's Death
Posted by Joseph Lee on 03.05.2013
They may have pressured Conrad Murray..
Billboard reports that an email has been revealed that allegedly links concert promoter AEG Live to the 2009 death of Michael Jackson. It was revealed as part of the wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Jackson's mother and children.
CNN adds that the exchange between AEG Live co-CEO Paul Gongaware and This Is It show director Kenny Ortega hints that Dr. Conrad Murray may have been pressured into forcing a tired Jackson into performing over fear of losing his $150,000-a-month job as Jackson's personal doctor. Jackson died on June 25, 2009, just two weeks before his 50-date comeback concerts at the AEG-owned O2 Arena in London.
Gongaware's email read: "We want to remind [Murray] that it is AEG, not MJ, who is paying his salary. We want to remind him what is expected of him."
Jackson's lawyers argue that this is proof there is a connection to MJ's death. His children (Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket) and their grandmother Katherine claim that AEG Live put pressure on Murray which led to an overdose of the anesthetic propofol, which was used to help Jackson rest before his rehearsals. Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in November of 2011 and is currently serving a four-year prison sentence. The new trial will begin next month. The witness list includes both Prince and Murray (who did not testify at his own trial).
Lawyer Kevin Boyle said: "Now that the court has ruled that there is evidence that it was foreseeable that AEG's actions resulted in Michael Jackson's death, the Jackson family feels vindicated from the public smear campaign that AEG has waged against them. The truth about what happened to Michael, which AEG has tried to keep hidden from the public since the day Michael died, is finally emerging. We look forward to the trial where the rest of the story will come to light."
There are other emails between AEG officials being used as evidence. In one, Ortega tells AEG Live president Randy Phillips that he's worried about Michael's condition. He said: "It is like there are two people in there. One (deep inside) trying to hold on to what he was and still can be and not wanting us to quit him, the other in this weakened and troubled state. I believe we need professional guidance in this matter."
Phillips replied: "This doctor is extremely successful (we check everyone out) and does not need this gig, so he is totally unbiased and ethical."
AEG Live says they have no liability in Jackson's death because Murray was not their employee, but JAckson lawyers point to another email as evidence that Phillips pushed Murray to get Jackson to his rehearsals. In one email sent by AEG Live tour accountant Timm Woolley to an insurance broker two days before Jackson's death, he wrote: "Randy Phillips and Dr. Murray are responsible for MJ rehearsal and attendance schedule."
In a statement last year, AEG lawyer Marvin Putnam said: "Defendants did not hire Dr. Murray, nor were they responsible for the death of Michael Jackson."
