Conrad Murray Defense Likely to Wrap Up Case Today

Los Angeles - The defense will likely wrap up its case today in the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson's doctor, with an expert on propofol -- the powerful anesthetic that killed the pop superstar -- expected back on the stand.

LIVE VIDEO: Conrad Murray Trial

In a somewhat contentious day of testimony Monday, Dr. Paul White conceded under cross-examination that Jackson's physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, deviated from the accepted standard of care in the months leading up to the singer's death and on June 25, 2009, the day the entertainer died.

White told jurors he had never heard of anyone administering the powerful anesthetic propofol in a patient's bedroom and had never done it himself. He said he would not administer propofol in a home setting.

"Without careful bedside monitoring, it could be dangerous," the veteran anesthesiologist testified when Deputy District Attorney David Walgren asked if it would be extremely dangerous to administer propofol with an IV drip for about two months.

White is expected to be followed on the stand today by an expert who developed models used by the defense during White's testimony about the amount of propofol found in Jackson's urine.

The defense has contended that Jackson gave himself the fatal dose of propofol while Murray was out of the room.

White said he believed Jackson injected himself with a syringe that Murray had already drawn up -- likely while the doctor was on a series of phone calls.

Murray, a 58-year-old cardiologist, faces up to four years in prison if convicted of the felony charge stemming from Jackson's death.

Prosecutors allege Murray gave the singer a fatal intravenous dose of propofol, then spent about 45 minutes on the phone or sending emails instead of monitoring him. Jackson was in Los Angeles rehearsing for a series of 50 concerts in London dubbed "This Is It."

In his opening statement, defense attorney Edward Chernoff said the evidence would show Jackson "self-administered a dose of propofol" after Murray left the room, which "created a perfect storm" and "killed him instantly."

Murray told police he only left Jackson's side for about two minutes to use the bathroom after giving the singer a 25-milligram dose of propofol that was slowly infused over three to five minutes between 10:40 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.

White got into trouble with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor twice on Monday.

When Walgren asked him who was responsible for bringing propofol into Jackson's home, the defense witness responded, "Well, Conrad Murray certainly purchased propofol. I understand Michael Jackson had his own supply as well."

Pastor sent the jury out of the courtroom, then chastised White for making comments that were linked to the expert's own conversations with Murray -- which are not in evidence. He noted that White had been admonished by Murray's attorneys not to bring up his subsequent discussions with Jackson's physician.

"It's clearly deliberate. It's not going to happen again," the judge said. "He's trying at every juncture to add in other material ... I don't like it."

Just before a lunch break and again outside the jury's presence, the judge scolded White for telling jurors he would like to explain something to them but that the judge told him that he couldn't.

"That is a direct violation of my order and, quite frankly, constitutes contempt of court," Pastor said, noting that he was prepared to fine White $1,000, but would give him an opportunity to address the issue Nov. 16.

The defense's expert on propofol had already been ordered by the judge to come to court next month for a possible contempt hearing for making comments to the media about the case outside the courtroom -- against strict rules set down by the judge.

As the court session drew to a close outside the jury's presence Monday, the judge again informed Murray of his "absolute right to testify" as well as his "right to remain silent."

"I will still need more time to talk to my counsel about it," Murray said.

The judge noted that he would be asking Murray again for his decision.