Disturbing Photos and Recording of Michael Jackson Revealed During Trial

Yesterday, the trial against Michael Jackson's personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray began. During the opening portions of the court case, in which the prosecution and defense delivered their opening statements, disturbing postmortem photos of Michael Jackson were put on display. A very sad recording of Jackson that was taped just weeks before his death was also played, in which the singer can be heard slurring his words heavily.

On Tuesday, Sept. 27, the prosecution argued that Murray, who is being charged with involuntary manslaughter, caused the death of Michael Jackson due to "gross negligence and incompetence" (via Us Weekly). The prosecutors also claim that Murray continuously gave Jackson nearly-lethal doses of the anesthetic propofol. They also stated that Murray, 58, gave Jackson a dose of propofol the day the singer passed on, and that Murray left Jackson unattended for 45 minutes while he spoke on the phone.

Conversely, the defense argued that Jackson "swallowed 8 milligrams of Lorazepam" and "self-administered a dose of propofol" while Murray wasn't present in the room. The mixing of these drugs supposedly created a "perfect storm, killing him instantly… There was no doctor, no paramedic, no machine that was going to revive Michael Jackson. He died so rapidly, so instantly, he didn’t even have time to close his eyes" (via Idolator).

In addition to providing these comments, the prosecution team also had a lot of disturbing evidence to back up their case against Murray. A photo was shown of Jackson's body shortly after he died, and the image is very upsetting (via E! Online), with Jackson looking very frail laying on a hospital gurney.

The postmortem photo wasn't the only piece of shocking and heart-wrenching evidence the prosecution brought to the table. Deputy District Attorney David Walgren was brought to the stand (he also revealed the photo of Jackson) and played a recording MJ took on his iPhone on May 10, 2009, just a few weeks before he died on June 25. Jackson is clearly on drugs in the recording, and the effects of the propofol truly became clear. The singer is heard slurring heavily and hardly being able to get his thoughts together as he speaks into the recorder.

On the tape, Jackson said, "We have to be phenomenal. When people leave this show, when people leave my show, I want them to say, 'I've never seen nothing like this in my life. Go. Go. I've never seen nothing like this. Go. It's amazing. He's the greatest entertainer in the world.'" It is so sad to hear Jackson in this state, as his drug problems were kept under wraps up until it was too late.

Jackson's family members were at the trial, including his sisters LaToya and Janet, brothers Randy and Jermaine, and parents Joe and Katherine. The MJ relatives were all seen crying and wiping away tears as the lawyers and witnesses rehashed what happened on that tragic June day.

Stay tuned with PopCrush for more updates on the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray.

Listen to the Recording of Michael Jackson Weeks Before His Death