"We don't settle matters that are utterly baseless. We believe that is the case in this matter. I can't see why we would consider a settlement as anything other than a shakedown"

"He had a written contract," Trell said. "I remember the email dynamic. I'm not too proud to admit that I didn't recall the cover contract," Trell said he was changing his previous testimony to add that Ortega had a written contract, not only emails between him and AEG

"Prior to speaking with carriers we ask the artist to attend medical with a doctor...A full medical with both blood/urine tests. The doctor also wants to review the medical records over the last 5 years to ensure full disclosure. Insurers require further medical examination to be carried out by their nominated doctor. They may restrict illness coverage or death from illness coverage until this examination has taken place"

"We have no coverage against Michael sickness unless and until he submits to another medical in London

"We really need to get that medical done"

"Any update on the availability of Term insurance?" (life insurance)

"We would get the money owed to us, yes," Trell testified.

"Insurers have refused to move on this. Huge amount of speculation in the media regarding artist's health. They feel if they're to consider providing illness to cover this particular artist, they must have very through medical report"

"If we don't get sickness coverage, we are dropping this policy"

"The consultation in London is critical. The doctor is holding the afternoon of the 6th July open at Harley St. But keep in mind the visit could take 2 hours plus"

"It seems to me we submitted this report for their review, I don't see any request for payment," Trell said.

"I had heard about rehearsals in which Mr. Jackson was fantastic," Trell said

"I was aware of the doctor not allowing him to attend rehearsal," Trell said

"...Ortega, Gongaware, Dileo, and his doctor Conrad from Vegas and I have an intervention with him to get him to focus and come to rehearsal"

"We need a physical therapist and a nutritionist"

"Paul/Randy I'm not bring a drama queen here. Kenny asked me to notify you both Michael was sent home without stepping foot on stage. He was a basket case and Kenny was concerned he would embarrass himself on stage, or worse yet, be hurt. The company is rehearsing right now, but the DOUBT is pervasive"

"We have a huge problem here."
"I think he recognized there was a problem on the 19th," Trell said. "I would take it seriously, as I believe Mr. Phillips did."

"I would take it seriously, as I believe Mr. Phillips did," Trell answered. "I don't know I would use the word 'red flag'

"I have the right therapist/spiritual advisosubstance abuse counselor who could help (recently helped Mike Tyson get sober and paroled) Do we know whether there is a substance issue involved (perhaps better discussed on the phone)

"I honestly don't think he is ready for this based on his continued physical weakening and deepening emotional state"

"Tim and I are going to see him tomorrow, however, I'm not sure what the problem is Chemical or Physiological?"

"Take the doctor with you. Why wasn't he there last night?"

"He is not a psychiatrist so I'm not sure how effective he can be at this point obviously, getting him there is not the issue. It is much deeper"

"She was blown away by it," Trell testified.

"I knew of no problems with Michael Jackson at all",Trell testified.

"What were his observations of Michael's physical condition during rehearsal," Trell said. "I asked for his (Phillips) personal opinion."

"I am not familiar with the process of doing background checks," Trell said. "No training."

Panish: "There was no hiring criteria for the This Is It tour, correct?"

Panish: "You don't do anything to check into background, supervise or protect the artist?"

"When they leave the environment, what they do on their own time is their own business"

"We did nothing to monitor Dr. Murray," Trell said. "We did not monitor whatever it was that he was doing, no."

Trell: "I certainly wasn't aware of it at the time"

Subject: Revised agreement with GCA Holdings/Dr. MurrayIt had two attachments Attachments: Revised Michael Jackson -AEG GCA Holdings Murray Agreement 6-18-09 Final MJ -- AEG GCA Holdings Agreement (Dr. Murray) 6-23-09

Subject: RE: Michael Jackson - Revised Agreement with GCA Holdings/Dr. Murray Email:

Panish: "Did Ms. Jorrie call this contract a draft?"

"This guy was willing to leave his practice for a very large sum of money, so we hired him," Phillips said.

Panish: "Isn't it true that Randy Phillips made numerous comments that AEG Live hired Dr. Murray?"

Subject: AEG Live president says AEG Live hired Dr. Conrad Murray

Panish: "Does that refresh your recollection that AEG was employing Dr. Murray?"

Panish: "As far as you know, all the agreements written for TII tour was done under AEG Live Productions, right?"

Panish: "As of June 2009, you don't even know whether Mr. Jackson had a personal manager
working for him, right?"

"Jeff, remember getting Michael to focus is not the easiest thing in the world and we still have no lawyer, business manager, or, even real manager in place. It is a nightmare!"

"I've never spoken with Dr. Murray ever. And I met/spoke with Mr. Jackson once," Trell said.

"He was a significant expense," Trell testified about Dr. Murray.

"Kenny it's critical that neither you, me, anyone around this show become amateur psychiatrist/physicians. I had a lengthy conversation with Dr. Murray, who I am gaining immense respect for as I get to deal with him more. He said that Michael is not only physically equipped to perform & discouraging him to will hasten his decline instead of stopping it. Dr. Murray also reiterated that he is mentally able to and was speaking to me from the house where he had spent the morning with Michael. This doctor is extremely successful (we check everyone out) and does not need this gig so he is totally unbiased and ethical"

Panish then asked Trell, "Sir, you never checked out one single thing about Dr. Murray -- you've already told me that, correct?"

"I don't know where Randy's understanding or impression comes from", Trell said.

Panish: "But no one at AEG checked Dr. Murray to see if he was successful or not, isn't that true?"

"I know this statement is not accurate, but you'd have to speak with Mr. Phillips about what he thought or meant in saying it," Trell said.

Panish: "That's a flat out lie, isn't it sir?"

Panish: "Isn't it true AEG Live does not do background check on independent contractors?"

"Did anyone from AEG ever at any time interview Dr. Murray", asked Brian Panish

"He wasn't an employee, he wasn't applying for a full time position with the company," Trell explained.

"The purpose of the meeting was to wind up the business affairs of the tour due to Michael's death", Trell said. "It was my understating in June Tohme was back in the picture in some capacity. I'm not sure which, Mr. DiLeo was in it too," Trell said

Note 3: 'Contract is not signed by Michael Jackson and such signature was condition precedent to any payment obligation' - Footnote on Murray fee.

"You testified you were somewhat confused (by the inclusion of the $300,000)?", Bina asked Trell as she projected the list, dated July 17, 2009, on a screen for jurors.

"When we were done here yesterday, I looked at Kenny Ortega's original agreement," Trell said.

"It's my understanding they were talking to, or at least receiving offers from, a competitive of ours, Live Nation," Trell said.

"He popped up, came over, introduced himself, was very cordial, there was a real positive energy, good vibe in the room," Trell said. "He seemed genuinely enthused," Trell added. "He had the contract in front of him, said he read every page, seemed very enthused." Trell said they all signed it and Mr. Jackson was really keen on the 3-D stuff, that he was already down the road in his mind. "I was probably there just a little less than an hour. And that was the only time I met him," Trell recalled.

Artist shall perform no less than 80 minutes at each show, and the maximum show length for each show shall be 3.5 hours. Artist shall approve a sufficient number of shows on itineraries proposed by promoter or producer as to recoup the advances made.

"We advanced the money necessary to mount the tour," Trell explained. "It's interest free money".

"The rights needed to be freed up," Trell said.

"Michael Jackson was known to have very elaborate productions," Trell said. "Production values can get significant, for lack of a better word, it really depends on how many bells and whistles they want," Trell said.

"If the were no obligations to AEG, the payout would go back to the artist", Trell explained, "It just recoups our loan made to the artist."

Artistco hereby represents and warrants that artist does not possess any known health conditions, injuries or ailments that would reasonable be expected to interfere with Artist's first class performance at each of the shows during the term

"There are conditions that needed to be met before any payment could be made."

"No payments were ever made under this agreement," Trell explained.

• Xbox Series X/S (May 21, 2024)
• PC (May 21, 2024)

• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II – Official Trailer The Game Awards 2023
• Senua's Saga: Hellblade II - The Senua Trailer Xbox Games Showcase 2023

Critic Reviews

Few games in recent times have been able to do what Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 has done: make me feel so engaged and immersed that I wish the feeling would never stop. It is a game that will keep you in constant awe throughout the playtime with its fantastic and mysterious story, incredible graphic and sound presentation and realistic and brutal combat that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II won’t be for everyone. But if you are looking for a brutal continuation of a fantastic story that feels like you’re actually playing a movie, you’ll have a great time here.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 starts incredibly strong in the first half, but after certain revelations, the story speeds up to a point where the conclusion feels rushed and half-baked.

It has been a very long time since I played a game as assured, polished, and emotionally affecting as Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2.

If you expect an immersive but not so interactive “game”, Senua’s Saga Hellblade II delivers a short yet intense experience. Ninja Theory has once again skillfully created an impressive atmosphere, as they did in Senua’s Sacrifice. Unfortunately, the issues remain as well: Puzzles and combat are too easy and there is no variety in either. So please keep in mind, that this is more a Hellblade 1.5 than a true sequel.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is well worth the wait and is a serious game of the year contender. Senua's follow-up journey is the best exploration of mental health that we've seen in games to date, using incredibly striking visual imagery, metaphors and immersive soundscapes to have you feel right there next to her. In what has to be the most photo-realistic game of all time, you're guaranteed to be constantly taken by the hero's adventure as you take in the beautiful and often haunting Viking Iceland. Through mud and dirt, blood and bones, Senua and Ninja Theory in turn bare all to you, the player. A masterpiece, benchmark and magnum opus, Hellblade II is crucial storytelling you won't soon forget.

With Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Ninja Theory shows that video games can be more than simple entertainment: they can be profound artistic and emotional explorations, capable of touching and transforming those who play them. This is an unforgettable journey into the heart of Iceland's darkness, where every step of Senua is a step towards self-discovery.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is a visual stunner for Xbox even if its gameplay isn't too creative.

Hellblade 2 continues Senua's story with grace, confidence, surprising brutality and thundering conviction.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II’s conclusion ends on another strong note, and despite my initial reservations about continuing Senua’s story, I walked away happy to see her conquer new monsters, both literal and metaphorical.

There is simply nothing else like Hellblade 2 on the market and that alone kept me enthralled the whole way through. Its pared-down elements might not be mechanically complex, but they give the story a momentum that makes it hard to put down. Ninja Theory tackles themes that are challenging and not often seen in games, with a backdrop that vacillates between the epic and the intimate. It's approach doesn't have widespread appeal, but Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is as close to an interactive movie as we’ve seen yet.

Hellblade 2 is perhaps the most visually remarkable Xbox title to date, but is ultimately undermined by its emphasis on fidelity over story and gameplay.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a stunning and immersive storytelling experience that really puts the player into the mind of its titular character. It's even more narratively-focused than the first game (not to its detriment), with a bigger emphasis on how Senua sees and interacts with the world around her. The whole experience from start to finish has been beyond memorable.

Ninja Theory manages to place Senua in the Olympus of videogames with the most visually and sonorously powerful game we have seen so far. A spectacular, stunning and awe-inspiring journey.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is another Viking-worthy feast for the senses that meets the high bar set by its predecessor, even if it never really manages to clear it.

A spellbinding meditation on anguish and compassion, Hellblade II delivers one of the most gripping interactive and sensory experiences of 2024

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a true masterpiece: a deep and highly immersive narrative experience that manages to make us feel all the protagonist's torment within an impressively realistic world. Ninja Theory reveals itself to be one of the most valuable studios in the Xbox stable here, reaching levels of absolute excellence in graphics, audio, narration, and acting. A must-play.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II keeps the basics intact, and while a strong lead character, great animations, and simple but enjoyable combat continue to deliver, the poor pacing and performance issues prevent this sequel from breaking free of its past.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is the best-looking game we've ever played - a true visual powerhouse backed by an emotionally charged story and gripping dark fantasy setting, if you can look past some of its shortcomings.

Despite its greater scale and visual splendour, this sequel fails to escape the shadow of its predecessor with a muddled tale that Senua herself feels out of place in.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is an impeccable story of coming to terms with trauma and making difficult decisions, punctuated by moments of outstanding beauty and strength.

Hellblade 2 is a stellar example of a sequel done right, building on the elements that made the original a landmark in gaming. It stays true to its roots, prioritizing depth and atmosphere over broad appeal. Fans of the first game will find much to love here, as it remains a unique and compelling experience. However, if the original didn't resonate with you, Hellblade 2 follows a similar path and might not change your mind.

Where the first game felt like a journey of self-discovery, both for Senua and for the player, Hellblade 2 feels more invested in creating the myth of Senua: Senua as legendary giant slayer, as mystical seer touched by the underworld.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is yet another arresting, artful chapter in an adventure now two games long. Though it might approach iteration with a very safe hand, only going so far as to correct the original's shortcomings, Ninja Theory's clear strengths in story craft, audiovisual design, as well as their care for the dark subject matter manage to shine through brighter than ever before.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II emerges as a visual and storytelling masterpiece, and is unquestionably the best-looking game I've witnessed on Xbox Series X since its launch.

A more uncompromising version of the first game, Hellblade 2 offers a well told story and immaculate presentation. But it's also even simpler, to the point where it treats interaction like an inconvenience.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is, at its core, a short game, but an excellent one. But it's not for everyone. It's a bloody and often disgusting experience based on strong emotions and immersion in a character that just won't let you go. It's more of an artistic experience than a traditional game.

An exceptionally well realized portrayal of Senua's struggle both real and praying on her fears, with brutal and satisfying combat and puzzles that require you to appreciate the world. It successfully continues what the first game started and improves upon almost every aspect.

Senua's Saga is a journey unlike any other. It's fantastical, evocative, and demonstrative of Ninja Theory being masters of their craft.

Hellblade 2 still does incredibly well. The new story is weighty, the audio is exceptional, the scenery is ridiculously dense and rich, and the combat feels intense and impactful in new and interesting ways.

The newest chapter in Senua’s story is powerfully told but feels like it’s missing a few pages.

Senua's Saga is as strong as its predecessor, if not more, and delivers both in its storytelling and on the technical side. The gameplay, however, has still a lot of room for improvements and boils down to almost-QTE combat and boring puzzles. An experience more than an actual and so-called video game, but an experience worth living nonetheless.

Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2 is a video game only on its surface. Scratch that away and you’ll see that it’s a deep, thought-provoking, interactive experience proving games are an art form that demands skill and talent. Ninja Theory should be very proud.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II features intense audio, beautiful graphics, and wonderful camera work, creating a powerful presentation that’s worth experiencing. However, the narrative doesn’t quite stick the landing.

Just like its forbear, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is an oppressive, powerful and haunting example of the power of video games, and one that sets its own parameters for what a digital experience can be. It is a game that must be experienced, not least because, there’s nothing else quite like it.

What Ninja Theory has achieved transcends reality, creating a work that is practically perfect for what it aimed to be: an audiovisual adventure with a strong narrative component. Beyond state-of-the-art graphics and sound that will undoubtedly set a standard in the coming years, what truly astonishes is the maturity with which the team has taken an excellent game like the first Hellblade and molded it into something so qualitatively impressive that it becomes difficult to even describe. This elevates the medium to a new communicative level, capable of evoking emotions and surprising players from start to finish. Experiences like Hellblade 2, which leave a lasting impression on the soul, are few and far between in a generation, and we can only rejoice in seeing how the beautiful artistic vision of the Ninja Theory team has become a reality.

Hellblade 2 feels like a living, breathing shapeshifter, manipulating its surroundings around the player with precision and consistency, making it one of the most visually stunning video games of this generation. This is an amazing title that carefully balances its artistic and gaming ambitions, a masterpiece that I encourage any gamer to experience.

Ninja Theory has created an outstanding sequel with Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2. An unforgettable narrative adventure that is brought to life through impeccable sound design, fantastic visuals, and a story that will stick with you long after the final credits roll. Hellblade 2 is one of the best games Xbox has to offer.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a technical achievement for the gaming industry, the visuals are impressive and realistic in a way we haven't seen before and the audio design is very impressive. The game itself though, we think it could've offered more as puzzles are repetitive and combat is quite limited. However, the storytelling is strong in this chapter of Senua's journey, though it feels heavy and depressing.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is an achievement in visual fidelity but fails to define itself amid clumsy retreads and unengaging new ideas.

A game like Senua's Saga: Hellblade II can only be the result of years of passion and talent, captivating you with its unbelievable visuals, impeccable audio design, and powerful thought-provoking narrative. It's a veritable masterpiece, but it's just shy of perfection thanks to an average PC port and some minor criticisms.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a beautiful but ultimately hollow game. The fantastic presentation props up a story that is less personal and engaging than in the first game, and the gameplay feels like an afterthought. It was great to see Senua again and to see her outside of the grief-misery she was enveloped in during the first game, but beyond that, there's not much to Hellblade II. It's a short and less memorable experience that shows off Ninja Theory's visual craft to its fullest - but it achieves little else.

While Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 might not set any new standards with its simplistic gameplay mechanics, from an audio-visual experience standpoint, it's frankly quite a stunning experience. Hellblade 2 is as close to playing the leading role in a big budget movie as you’re likely to get, and Ninja Theory’s continued coverage on the complexities of severe mental health issues deserves to be commended once more. Bravo, Ninja Theory. Bravo.

Despite the backing of a company as large and as well-funded as Microsoft, Ninja Theory have, in my opinion, nurtured their independent spirit and kept it well and truly alive in every facet of Senua's Saga: Hellblade II. It's brutal. It's breath-taking. It's brilliant. If this is “Independent AAA”?

Dr. Murray represented he's licensed cardiologist practicing in Las Vegas and that he acts as the Artist's general practitioner

• Budget Total: Budget: $22,228,000 /Actual: $24,835,011
• Management Medical Budget: $300,000/ Actual: Zero
• Public Relations Budget: $18,000 /Actual: Zero
• Rehearsal Per Diems: Budget: $175,000 /Actual: $89,751
• Rehearsal Facilities: Budget: $871,000/ Actual: $1,553,558

Panish: Do you know what that $18,000 is for?
Hollander: No
Panish: Budget and actual payment for rehearsals per diem were different because Mr. Jackson died, correct?
Hollander: No

Panish: You didn't pay Dr. Murray, did you?
Hollander: No
Panish: That's why it's not there (on doc shown)
Hollander: Yes
"But all the estimates include payment for Dr. Murray?", Panish asked
"That's what shows in this paper," Hollander responded.

Promoter shall make advanced to cover mutually-approved production costs up to but not exceeding $7.5 million

"In my experience, a draft is a term used to describe an agreement that has not been signed by all parties involved", Hollander explained.
Panish: Is it your experience people sign draft agreements?
Hollander: My experience is that until everyone signs, it can be changed. If this version had been signed by everybody, would've been final

I was told it was put in there at the request of the artist, Hollander said

"I've never been involved in a tour where AEG hired a doctor", Hollander said. "It's never happened before. I know in my experience it's not typical for a promoter or producer to hire a doctor"

"Do you know what GCA is? Does it sell popcorn?"

"Acting as producer you get more money than just as promoter, right?", Panish asked

Panish: You don't know whether the artist was supposed to approve the cost while it was incurred and not after his death, correct?

Panish: "Do you have any understanding whether Dr. Murray expected to get paid?"
Hollander: "Only along those lines, yes"

Panish: Did you enter in a contract with Mr. Jackson for the This Is It tour?
Trell: Yes

"I think they were interested in what we knew about Dr. Murray"

"This report was sent to the Estate as an accounting and an effort to recoup the money based on the agreement," Trell said.

"To me, it was a mistake," Trell said about including payment to Dr. Murray

"Mistakenly, yes," Trell said. Despite these "mistakes," Trell called the CFO "a very detailed-oriented guy"

• $3 million was to pay settlement of a lawsuit
• $100,000/month for Carolwood house lease

"I don't recall one. This was the only time we paid a personal manager", Trell testified.

"He was listed incorrectly as production cost," Trell said

"There's an inherent risk in any commercial undertaking," Trell said.

"It wasn't a sure thing that AEG would get back the $35 million spent. By the time they spent $35 million, tickets were already been sold", Trell said and they knew the tour was sold out. "The development of a tour is a fluid thing, there were conversations between our side and MJ's side all the time", Trell said. "I don't know when I became aware the production cost exceeded $7.5 million," Trell testified.

Panish: After MJ died, you drafted an agreement to approve productions costs?
Trell: Yes

"I wouldn't characterize it as trying to get the monies back," Trell said.

"I had nothing in writing," Trell said about Tohme representing MJ. "Presumably they could've objected if they felt it wasn't true."

"I had no reason not to believe him"

"We were making that payment"

"AEG was facilitating an agreement between MJ and Dr. Tohme."

"That was because there were some conditions in the agreement not met"

"Subsequently, I learned Mr. Jackson had not approved the payment. MJ didn't authorize, so it wasn't going to get paid," Trell said, explaining he learned it either from Randy Phillips or Frank DiLeo.

"At my direction and effective immediately, Dr. Tohme Tohme is no longer authorized to represent me in any capacity"

Panish: are you license to practicing law in CA?
Trell: no, not in all aspects

"They were concerned he had skin cancer" "The policy was otherwise issued, but this was to add illness"

Panish: the insurance wanted additional medical exams because they were concerned, weren't they?
Trell: I have no idea

"It was thought that he might be of some help."

"An inquire of that was made to Mr. Taylor. We have no coverage against MJ sickness unless and until MJ submits to another medical in London. It was important to get that medical done"

Panish: You were working on getting insurance on the day MJ died, weren't you sir?
Trell: I don't recall

"Dr. Murray can comment on the availability of the records"

"Term insurance is a reference to a form of life insurance"

Panish: You made the claim the night MJ died, didn't you?
Trell: I don't recall the date; it wasn't Jun 25th when I sent letter to Taylor
Panish: Were you speaking with Taylor about MJ being sick on the day he died?
Trell: I don't recall speaking with Mr. Taylor on the 25th

Panish: Did Mr. Phillips tell you MJ was in bad shape prior to June 25?
Trell: Yes, on June 19

Panish: Within one week of MJ's death, the executive management was told about MJ poor physical condition?
Trell: The events on June 19, yes

"Ortega's contract was a series of emails between us" Trell said. "He didn't have agreement of the nature as other people had on the tour"

Trell: "I don't recall, but I know initially it was more informal agreement. He (Ortega) was being paid based on the email agreement"

"He was rendering services to Mr. Jackson; he had not been engaged for This Is It tour," Trell testified.
Panish: And Dr. Murray had an agreement with AEG based on the emails?
Trell: No, Dr. Murray didn't have an agreement with AEG

"Kenny Ortega is different from Conrad Murray," Trell testified.

"I have performed and continue to fulfill my services to the client in good faith. Therefore, I am asking you to deposit my fee for May in reciprocity of good faith on your part as per our agreement the usual and customary date for deposit is around 15th of each month, by today's date we're 13 days beyond my monthly fee.”

• contracting company
• mode of travel
• living arrangements in London
  Another email shows Wooley asking Dr. Murray for a cancelled check for direct deposit of his monthly compensation.
  

"Done at $150K per month, per MJ."

Panish: And Dr. Murray was working for AEG Live in May of 2009
Trell: No, I would totally disagree with that statement

"I would totally disagree with that statement," Trell said, noting that Ortega and Murray were considered independent contractors

Trouble at the Front
"I honestly don't think he's ready for this based in his continued physical weakening and deepening emotional state. It is reminiscent if what Karen, Bush, Travis and I remembered just before he fainted causing the HBO Concerts to be canceled. There are strong signs of paranoia, anxiety and obsessive-like behavior. I think the very best thing we can do is get a top Psychiatrist in to evaluate him ASAP. It’s like there are two people 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 his weakened and troubled state … I honestly felt if I had encouraged or allowed him on stage last night he could have hurt himself. I believe we need professional guidance in this matter."

"It is critical that neither you, me or anyone around this show become amateur psychiatrists or physicians."

"I think someone took it seriously," Trell said.

"was concerned about a false story or a concocted one."

"“I don't send people out to throw stones at people's houses"

"I feel deceived by Mr. Mesereau and I am considering ... sanctions of some sort against Mr. Mesereau”"

"I refuse to answer that question based on attorney client privilege."

"We're approaching the end of trial," he told Judge Melville. ”The defense has indicated they may be resting as early as next Tuesday."

• November 5, 2009 - the father of the first accuser Evan Chandler, commits suicide - single gunshot to the head
  
• December 18, 2009, Bruce Ayers (Dr. Klein's research assistant and confidant of 3 years) was found dead on a sidewalk in Los Angeles. Ayers knew MJ
  
• April 30, 2010, Peter Lopez (Michael Jackson's ex-lawyer) commits suicide - single gunshot to the head
  

Peter's History With Michael

"I can't think of a nicer individual," she said after his death. "He was a good guy. I'm just so shocked."

"in what could be one of the biggest conspiracies in the entertainment industry, documents have been sent to Michael Jackson, and his representatives, which reveal a deliberate plan by some former attorneys as well as associates and advisors, to force Jackson into involuntary bankruptcy. The documents reveal that FORMER ATTORNEYS actively solicited other attorneys, vendors and creditors to 'join in a petition to place the client in involuntary bankruptcy.' ...Based on the timing of the events that have impacted his personal and professional life in recent years, he has long been suspicious that some of them that he entrusted to act on his behalf, and to advise him with respect to his personal and business affairs, may not have always acted in his best interests."

The Final Months

"in the past three years, Peter Lopez helped Michael Jackson launch the Life Water "Thrillicious" Super Bowl ad featuring Naomi Campbell, the release of "Thriller 25" (the 25th Anniversary edition of the biggest selling album in music history with new mixes featuring Wil.i.am, Kanye West, Akon and Fergie), "Thriller the Musical", the "This Is It" tour with AEG and an MJ inspired clothing line with Christian Audigier, you simply couldn't stop them, they were on fire."

"In mid-June, Michael Jackson retained John Branca to represent him as general and entertainment counsel in his business and personal affairs."

"I don't know"

"He represented Michael Jackson, and you know how crazy that was. He's the man responsible for putting the "This Is It" tour together. He brought AEG into the picture which I'm sure now he wishes he didn't. So I think that he felt very responsible for what happened to Michael. And I think that that gave him a lot of grief"

“It’s hard for me because I really do love the kids a lot,” she said in an apparent reference to her reluctance to testify against them.

"I asked, "Does Michael know anything about this?' She said, "They won't let us around him because they know the children tug at his heart strings' ", Pryor testified.

“It was something to the effect (of) what a great man he is. He is an angel. His love is great,” Pryor said.

“She was very anxious to tell the world that this beautiful friendship was nothing more than they saw -- a beautiful friendship,” Pryor said.