Kenny Ortega announced as first witness in MJ ‘manslaughter’ case

Washington: Producer/director Kenny Ortega has been announced as the first witness for the “manslaughter” trial of Michael Jackson’s personal medic.

The defendant, Dr. Conrad Murray has been accused of giving a fatal dose of anaesthetic propofol to the late King of Pop. Ortega, 61, had choreographed in ‘Dirty Dancing’ and also directed ‘High School Musical’ and was working with Michael on ‘This Is It’ when the pop legend died in 2009. The choreographer-turned-moviemaker had earlier revealed to the court that Jackson’s physician Dr. Conrad Murray assured him that the pop star was healthy enough to perform despite his health concerns. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, who will be overseeing the trial, has ruled out the defence team’s plea to show Jackson’s concert press conference footage in London deeming that they are irrelevant to the case, Contactmusic reported. Murray’s lawyers wanted to prove through the footage that the pop icon was already weak months before he died. ANI