Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and school president Graham Spanier were fired Wednesday night by the school's board of trustees because of the growing furor over how the school handled child sex abuse allegations against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
News of Paterno's firing inflamed Penn State students, who took to the streets and rioted (video below).
After hearing news of the firing, Paterno released a statement: "I am disappointed with the Board of Trustees' decision, but I have to accept it. A tragedy occurred, and we all have to have patience to let the legal process proceed. I appreciate the outpouring of support but want to emphasize that everyone should remain calm and please respect the university, its property and all that we value."
Standing outside of his home late Thursday with his wife, Paterno responded to crowds of students by saying: "You guys are great, all of you. Hey look, get a good night's sleep, study. You still have things to do. Right now, I'm not the football coach. And I've got to get used to that. After 61 years, I've got to get used to it. I appreciate it. Let me think it through."
Back at Penn State, board vice chair John Surma said, during a packed press conference:"The university is much larger than its athletic teams."
According to Surma, Paterno and Spanier were informed by telephone of the unanimous decisions to remove them because "we were unable to find a way to do that in person without causing further distraction."
But an unnamed source claims Surma lied when he said the board had informed Paterno by phone. Instead, the source claims a university employee hand-delivered a letter about the firing to the family home 15 minutes prior to the press conference. According to the source, the reason for the letter was that the university employee said the board was unable to locate Paterno during the day.
The legendary football coach allegedly said upon hearing the news: "You give your life to this place and that's how you're treated."
Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley will serve as interim coach while Rodney Erickson will be the interim school president.
Paterno said in a statement earlier Wednesday that he was "absolutely devastated" by the abuse case, in which his former assistant Jerry Sandusky, has been charged with molesting eight boys over 15 years, with some of the alleged assaults taking place at the Penn State football complex.
"This is a tragedy," Paterno said. "It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."
Paterno has come under harsh criticism for not taking more action in 2002 after then-graduate assistant and current assistant coach Mike McQueary came to him and reported seeing Sandusky in the Penn State showers with a young boy. Paterno notified the athletic director, Tim Curley, and a vice president, Gary Schultz.
Sandusky, who retired from Penn State in June 1999, maintained his innocence through his lawyer. Curley has taken a leave of absence and Schultz has decided to step down. They also say they are innocent.
Following the news of Paterno‘s firing, thousands of students took to the streets of State College, PA to protest Paterno’s dismissal. Police in riot gear were called in when some of the crowd turned violent, throwing rocks and turning over media trucks, and reportedly dispersed them with mace or pepper spray.
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Penn State sex scandal engulfing revered Joe Paterno
Time and again, questions about an alleged cover-up of a sex abuse scandal at Penn State circled back to one name: Joe Paterno.
Major college football’s oldest, winningest and perhaps most revered coach, was engulfed Monday in a growing furor involving former defensive coordinator and one-time heir apparent Jerry Sandusky, who was indicted on charges of sexually abusing eight boys over 15 years.
The Pennsylvania state police commissioner said Paterno fulfilled his legal requirement when he relayed to university administrators that a graduate assistant had seen Sandusky attacking a young boy in the team’s locker room shower in 2002. But the commissioner also questioned whether Paterno had a moral responsibility to do more.
On the Happy Valley campus and in the surrounding town of State College, some were even asking whether the 84-year-old coach should step down after 46 seasons on the sidelines.
Two Penn State officials, Senior Vice President Gary Schultz and Athletic Director Tim Curley, surrendered on charges that they failed to alert police to the complaint about Sandusky.
Schultz and Curley are also charged with lying to the state grand jury that indicted Sandusky. Both stepped down from their posts Sunday, Curley taking a temporary leave and Schultz retiring. They appeared Monday in a Harrisburg courtroom, where a judge set bail at $75,000. They weren’t required to enter pleas.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly said Paterno is not a target of the investigation into how the school handled the accusations. But she refused to say the same for the university president, Graham Spanier.
“All I can say is again, I’m limited to what’s contained in the presentment, and that this is an ongoing investigation,” Kelly said.
State police Commissioner Frank Noonan said that although Paterno may have met his legal requirement to report suspected abuse by Sandusky, “somebody has to question about what I would consider the moral requirements for a human being that knows of sexual things that are taking place with a child.”
He added: “I think you have the moral responsibility, anyone. Not whether you’re a football coach or a university president or the guy sweeping the building. I think you have a moral responsibility to call us.”
At a news conference, Noonan and Kelly were peppered with questions about whether Paterno was given details about what graduate assistant Mike McQueary — now the team’s wide receivers coach — saw on the night of March 1, 2002.
The grand jury report said McQueary was in the locker room that night to put away some new sneakers when he heard “rhythmic, slapping sounds” and looked into the showers.
He reportedly saw a naked boy, about 10 years old, with his hands against the wall as Sandusky subjected him to anal sex. McQueary left immediately and first contacted his father before calling Paterno the next morning and then meeting at Paterno’s home.
Exactly what was said during that meeting is unclear from the grand jury record, which states that Paterno called Curley the next day to tell him McQueary had seen Sandusky “in the Lasch Building showers fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy.”
Paterno released a statement Sunday in which he said he was not told “the very specific actions” contained in the grand jury report, but that McQueary had seen “something inappropriate involving Mr. Sandusky.”
“If this is true we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things, and we grieve for the victims and their families,” said Paterno, who has not spoken publicly about the matter. His weekly news conference is Tuesday.
The indictment also cited a 1998 incident in which an 11-year-old boy’s mother called university police to complain after learning that her son had showered with Sandusky. A state Department of Public Welfare investigator told the grand jury that Sandusky said he showered naked with the youth and hugged him, “admitted that it was wrong,” and promised not to shower with any child again.
Kelly would not say whether Paterno or the university president knew of that investigation.
“All I can say is that investigation was handled by Penn State University’s police department,” Kelly said. Penn State police said they were not releasing any information about the 1998 case.
Sandusky retired in 1999 after learning that he would not be Paterno’s successor as head coach.
Kelly and Noonan encouraged anyone who would accuse Sandusky of sexual assault to step forward and talk to police, with Kelly specifically asking that the child reportedly assaulted by Sandusky on March 1, 2002, call detectives.
Paterno has long had an image as a leader who does things by the book and runs a program that has seen far fewer off-field troubles than other major college football teams. Doubts about his judgment in handling the Sandusky matter quickly began to emerge.
Facebook users, including those on a newly created group called “Joe Paterno should resign,” expressed outrage and disappointment in Paterno. Many said Paterno should have gone to police after the 2002 incident.
At Rinaldo’s Barber Shop in State College, hair cutter Lori Schope said she believes Paterno shares responsibility.
“He passed the buck,” she said. “Anybody that says they knew about it and didn’t do anything about it is complicit.”
Advocates for priest-abuse victims saw parallels in how the university and the Roman Catholic church handled similar problems.
“Here we are again,” said John Salveson, former president of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. “When an institution discovers abuse of a kid ... their first reaction was to protect the reputation of the institution and the perpetrator.”
“They didn’t even try to find out the identity of the kid that was being raped in the shower,” he said. “Their solution to this was to not let Sandusky into the shower anymore. It’s just stunning to me that no one called the police.”
Sandusky was described by Keith “Kip” Richeal, co-author of his autobiography “Touched: The Jerry Sandusky Story,” as a loving father of six adopted children
“I hope to God it’s not true because I admire the man very much,” Richeal said. “All I saw was Jerry was kind to kids of all ages, including the students he dealt with.”
Sandusky has maintained his innocence, his lawyer said Saturday.
At Sandusky’s two-story brick house at end of a cul-de-sac about five minutes from campus, a State College police car was parked in the driveway for a time Monday. An officer said police had been asked to keep people off the property, which included a neatly trimmed lawn with a pumpkin at the front.
Schultz, 62, and Curley, 57, are innocent and will seek to have the charges dismissed, their lawyers said. Curley’s lawyer, Caroline Roberto, called the case weak, while Schultz’s lawyer, Tom Farrell, said the men did what they were supposed to do by informing their superiors of the accusations.
“You folks may have seen Mr. Paterno’s statement,” Farrell told reporters. “Mr. Paterno’s statement matches their statement. They were given a general allegation of inappropriate conduct. That’s what Mr. Paterno told them, that’s what Mr. Paterno told you folks yesterday, that’s what he testified to in the grand jury, and that’s what these gentlemen testified to in the grand jury.”
Sandusky continued to use the school’s facilities after retirement for his work with The Second Mile, a foundation he established in 1977 to help at-risk kids. The charges against him cover the period from 1994 to 2009.
The allegations against Sandusky range from sexual advances to touching to oral and anal sex. The young men testified before the state grand jury that they were in their early teens when some of the abuse occurred; there is evidence even younger children may have been victimized.
Buffalo Bills safety Bryan Scott, a three-year starter at Penn State from 1999-2002, said he was roommates with Sandusky’s son Jon and had heard from mutual friends that the younger Sandusky was “just completely devastated.”
“How can you not be? Your dad being accused of these allegations,” Scott said.
He said he was praying that the charges against the former assistant coach were not true. “If it is, my thoughts and prayers are on the victims and on the victims’ families,” he added.
On College Avenue, the street running in front of the Penn State campus, the scandal — and who bears responsibility — was a popular topic of conversation.
“It’s uncomfortable for us, because we know a lot of the people involved,” said Rebecca Durst, who owns Rinaldo’s Barber Shop.
“I don’t think there’s an easy solution,” Durst said. “Damage has been done to a lot of people.”
Anthony Vecchio, working on a street improvement project nearby, agreed. In any other job, he said, a boss would be held responsible if he or she didn’t report wrongdoing by an employee.
“He’s the boss, he’s the head coach,” Vecchio said. “He should know what’s going on beneath him.”
No matter what happens, Durst said the scandal has left a permanent stain on Penn State and the community.
“Happy Valley is not going to be Happy Valley anymore,” she said.
Major college football’s oldest, winningest and perhaps most revered coach, was engulfed Monday in a growing furor involving former defensive coordinator and one-time heir apparent Jerry Sandusky, who was indicted on charges of sexually abusing eight boys over 15 years.
The Pennsylvania state police commissioner said Paterno fulfilled his legal requirement when he relayed to university administrators that a graduate assistant had seen Sandusky attacking a young boy in the team’s locker room shower in 2002. But the commissioner also questioned whether Paterno had a moral responsibility to do more.
On the Happy Valley campus and in the surrounding town of State College, some were even asking whether the 84-year-old coach should step down after 46 seasons on the sidelines.
Two Penn State officials, Senior Vice President Gary Schultz and Athletic Director Tim Curley, surrendered on charges that they failed to alert police to the complaint about Sandusky.
Schultz and Curley are also charged with lying to the state grand jury that indicted Sandusky. Both stepped down from their posts Sunday, Curley taking a temporary leave and Schultz retiring. They appeared Monday in a Harrisburg courtroom, where a judge set bail at $75,000. They weren’t required to enter pleas.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly said Paterno is not a target of the investigation into how the school handled the accusations. But she refused to say the same for the university president, Graham Spanier.
“All I can say is again, I’m limited to what’s contained in the presentment, and that this is an ongoing investigation,” Kelly said.
State police Commissioner Frank Noonan said that although Paterno may have met his legal requirement to report suspected abuse by Sandusky, “somebody has to question about what I would consider the moral requirements for a human being that knows of sexual things that are taking place with a child.”
He added: “I think you have the moral responsibility, anyone. Not whether you’re a football coach or a university president or the guy sweeping the building. I think you have a moral responsibility to call us.”
At a news conference, Noonan and Kelly were peppered with questions about whether Paterno was given details about what graduate assistant Mike McQueary — now the team’s wide receivers coach — saw on the night of March 1, 2002.
The grand jury report said McQueary was in the locker room that night to put away some new sneakers when he heard “rhythmic, slapping sounds” and looked into the showers.
He reportedly saw a naked boy, about 10 years old, with his hands against the wall as Sandusky subjected him to anal sex. McQueary left immediately and first contacted his father before calling Paterno the next morning and then meeting at Paterno’s home.
Exactly what was said during that meeting is unclear from the grand jury record, which states that Paterno called Curley the next day to tell him McQueary had seen Sandusky “in the Lasch Building showers fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy.”
Paterno released a statement Sunday in which he said he was not told “the very specific actions” contained in the grand jury report, but that McQueary had seen “something inappropriate involving Mr. Sandusky.”
“If this is true we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things, and we grieve for the victims and their families,” said Paterno, who has not spoken publicly about the matter. His weekly news conference is Tuesday.
The indictment also cited a 1998 incident in which an 11-year-old boy’s mother called university police to complain after learning that her son had showered with Sandusky. A state Department of Public Welfare investigator told the grand jury that Sandusky said he showered naked with the youth and hugged him, “admitted that it was wrong,” and promised not to shower with any child again.
Kelly would not say whether Paterno or the university president knew of that investigation.
“All I can say is that investigation was handled by Penn State University’s police department,” Kelly said. Penn State police said they were not releasing any information about the 1998 case.
Sandusky retired in 1999 after learning that he would not be Paterno’s successor as head coach.
Kelly and Noonan encouraged anyone who would accuse Sandusky of sexual assault to step forward and talk to police, with Kelly specifically asking that the child reportedly assaulted by Sandusky on March 1, 2002, call detectives.
Paterno has long had an image as a leader who does things by the book and runs a program that has seen far fewer off-field troubles than other major college football teams. Doubts about his judgment in handling the Sandusky matter quickly began to emerge.
Facebook users, including those on a newly created group called “Joe Paterno should resign,” expressed outrage and disappointment in Paterno. Many said Paterno should have gone to police after the 2002 incident.
At Rinaldo’s Barber Shop in State College, hair cutter Lori Schope said she believes Paterno shares responsibility.
“He passed the buck,” she said. “Anybody that says they knew about it and didn’t do anything about it is complicit.”
Advocates for priest-abuse victims saw parallels in how the university and the Roman Catholic church handled similar problems.
“Here we are again,” said John Salveson, former president of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. “When an institution discovers abuse of a kid ... their first reaction was to protect the reputation of the institution and the perpetrator.”
“They didn’t even try to find out the identity of the kid that was being raped in the shower,” he said. “Their solution to this was to not let Sandusky into the shower anymore. It’s just stunning to me that no one called the police.”
Sandusky was described by Keith “Kip” Richeal, co-author of his autobiography “Touched: The Jerry Sandusky Story,” as a loving father of six adopted children
“I hope to God it’s not true because I admire the man very much,” Richeal said. “All I saw was Jerry was kind to kids of all ages, including the students he dealt with.”
Sandusky has maintained his innocence, his lawyer said Saturday.
At Sandusky’s two-story brick house at end of a cul-de-sac about five minutes from campus, a State College police car was parked in the driveway for a time Monday. An officer said police had been asked to keep people off the property, which included a neatly trimmed lawn with a pumpkin at the front.
Schultz, 62, and Curley, 57, are innocent and will seek to have the charges dismissed, their lawyers said. Curley’s lawyer, Caroline Roberto, called the case weak, while Schultz’s lawyer, Tom Farrell, said the men did what they were supposed to do by informing their superiors of the accusations.
“You folks may have seen Mr. Paterno’s statement,” Farrell told reporters. “Mr. Paterno’s statement matches their statement. They were given a general allegation of inappropriate conduct. That’s what Mr. Paterno told them, that’s what Mr. Paterno told you folks yesterday, that’s what he testified to in the grand jury, and that’s what these gentlemen testified to in the grand jury.”
Sandusky continued to use the school’s facilities after retirement for his work with The Second Mile, a foundation he established in 1977 to help at-risk kids. The charges against him cover the period from 1994 to 2009.
The allegations against Sandusky range from sexual advances to touching to oral and anal sex. The young men testified before the state grand jury that they were in their early teens when some of the abuse occurred; there is evidence even younger children may have been victimized.
Buffalo Bills safety Bryan Scott, a three-year starter at Penn State from 1999-2002, said he was roommates with Sandusky’s son Jon and had heard from mutual friends that the younger Sandusky was “just completely devastated.”
“How can you not be? Your dad being accused of these allegations,” Scott said.
He said he was praying that the charges against the former assistant coach were not true. “If it is, my thoughts and prayers are on the victims and on the victims’ families,” he added.
On College Avenue, the street running in front of the Penn State campus, the scandal — and who bears responsibility — was a popular topic of conversation.
“It’s uncomfortable for us, because we know a lot of the people involved,” said Rebecca Durst, who owns Rinaldo’s Barber Shop.
“I don’t think there’s an easy solution,” Durst said. “Damage has been done to a lot of people.”
Anthony Vecchio, working on a street improvement project nearby, agreed. In any other job, he said, a boss would be held responsible if he or she didn’t report wrongdoing by an employee.
“He’s the boss, he’s the head coach,” Vecchio said. “He should know what’s going on beneath him.”
No matter what happens, Durst said the scandal has left a permanent stain on Penn State and the community.
“Happy Valley is not going to be Happy Valley anymore,” she said.
Monday, 7 November 2011
Gran Hermano 2012: Victoria y Ezequiel tuvieron sexo! - LATVARG
GH DEBATE DE NOCHE: Ezequiel y VictoriaAdelanto donde Victoria Irouleguy y Ezequiel Tramannoni habrían tenido sexo en la casa, sucedió en la tarde del lunes en una de las habitaciones ...
Video: Dr. Conrad Murray guilty; Lindsay freed
A jury found Michael Jackson's doctor guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2009 death of the King of Pop.
Dr. Conrad Murray appeared stone-faced as the verdict was read Monday in a Los Angeles courtroom. The 58-year-old doctor, who is to be sentenced November 29, is facing up to four years in prison. He could also lose his medical license.
Jackson's sister LaToya screamed out upon hearing the verdict, while his crying mother, Katherine, was consoled by her son, Jermaine Jackson.
jackson fans murray guilty sign 640
Nov. 7, 2011: Michael Jackson fans celebrate outside the courtroom.
Conrad Murray Court Final Days 640
Oct. 25: Dr. Conrad Murray listens to testimony during his involuntary manslaughter trial in Los Angeles. A verdict was reached in the case Monday, Nov. 7.
Related Slideshow
In this Feb. 28, 1984 file photo, Michael Jackson is seen backstage at the 26th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles as he poses with the awards he won in eight different categories. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, file)
Remembering Michael Jackson
A look back at the life and death of Michael Jackson.
Related Slideshow
The Many Faces of Michael Jackson
On the one year anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson - we look back at the many faces the King of Pop had throughout his career...
Related Video
Case Against Michael Jackson's Doctor Goes to Jury
Deliberations begin in Murray manslaughter trial
Related Stories
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly At the Trial of Dr. Conrad Murray
jackson fans cheer verdict 640
Nov. 7, 2011: Fans of Michael Jackson outside the courtroom.
Murray's supporters looked somber over the news, with one shaking her head back and forth, mouthing the word "no."
Jackson fans who had gathered outside the courtroom burst into applause and cheered as the verdict, "Guilty!," was announced.
The decision was reached after less than nine hours of deliberation. The prosecution asked for Murray to be remanded into custody immediately. “He is now a convicted felon,” prosecutor David Walgren said.
Defense lawyer Ed Chernoff argued that he is not danger to the community before Murray was escorted out of the courtroom by the Sheriff.
Jackson died on June 25, 2009. The complete story of his death finally emerged during the six-week trial. It was the tale of a tormented genius on the brink of what might have been his greatest triumph with one impediment standing in his way -- extreme insomnia.
Testimony came from medical experts, household employees and Murray's former girlfriends, among others.
The most shocking moments, however, came when prosecutors displayed a large picture of Jackson's gaunt, lifeless body on a hospital gurney and played the sound of his drugged, slurred voice, as recorded by Murray just weeks before the singer's death.
Jackson talked about plans for a fantastic children's hospital and his hope of cementing a legacy larger than that of Elvis Presley or The Beatles.
"We have to be phenomenal," he said about his "This Is It" concerts in London. "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."'
Throughout the trial, Jackson family members watched from the spectator gallery, fans gathered outside with signs and T-shirts demanding, "Justice for Michael," and an international press corps broadcast reports around the world. The trial was televised and streamed on the Internet.
Prosecutors portrayed Murray as an incompetent doctor who used the anesthetic propofol without adequate safeguards and whose neglect left Jackson abandoned as he lay dying.
Murray's lawyers sought to show the doctor was a medical angel of mercy with former patients vouching for his skills. Murray told police from the outset that he gave Jackson propofol and other sedatives as the star struggled for sleep to prepare for his shows. But the doctor said he administered only a small dose on the day Jackson died.
Lawyers for Murray and a defense expert blamed Jackson for his own death, saying the singer gave himself the fatal dose of propofol while Murray wasn't watching. A prosecution expert said that theory was crazy.
Murray said he had formed a close friendship with Jackson, never meant to harm him and couldn't explain why he died.
The circumstances of Jackson's death at the age of 50 were as bizarre as any chapter in the superstar's sensational life story.
Jackson was found not breathing in his own bed in his rented mansion after being dosed intravenously with propofol, a drug normally administered in hospitals during surgery.
The coroner ruled the case a homicide and the blame would fall to the last person who had seen Jackson alive -- Murray, who had been hired to care for the singer as the comeback concerts neared.
Craving sleep, Jackson had searched for a doctor who would give him the intravenous anesthetic that Jackson called his "milk" and believed to be his salvation. Other medical professionals turned him down, according to trial testimony.
Murray gave up his practices in Houston and Las Vegas and agreed to travel with Jackson and work as his personal physician indefinitely.
For six weeks, as Jackson undertook strenuous rehearsals, Murray infused him with propofol every night, the doctor told police. He later tried to wean Jackson from the drug because he feared he was becoming addicted.
Jackson planned to pay Murray $150,000 a month for an extended tour in Europe. In the end, the doctor was never paid a penny because Jackson died before signing the contract.
During the last 24 hours of his life, Jackson sang and danced at a spirited rehearsal, reveling in the adulation of fans who greeted him outside. Then came a night of horror, chasing sleep -- the most elusive treasure the millionaire entertainer could not buy.
Testimony showed Murray gave Jackson intravenous doses that night of the sedatives lorazepam and midazolam. Jackson also took a Valium pill. But nothing seemed to bring sleep.
Finally, Murray told police, he gave the singer a small dose of propofol -- 25 milligrams -- that seemed to put him to sleep. The doctor said he felt it was safe to leave his patient's bedside for a few minutes, but Jackson was not breathing when he returned.
Witnesses said he was most likely dead at that point.
What happened next was a matter of dispute during the trial. Security and household staff described Murray as panicked, never calling emergency services but trying to give Jackson CPR on his bed instead of the firm floor.
A guard said Murray was concerned with packing up and hiding medicine bottles and IV equipment before telling him to call emergency services. Prosecutors said Murray was distracted while Jackson was sedated, citing Murray's cell phone records to show he made numerous calls.
Dr. Conrad Murray appeared stone-faced as the verdict was read Monday in a Los Angeles courtroom. The 58-year-old doctor, who is to be sentenced November 29, is facing up to four years in prison. He could also lose his medical license.
Jackson's sister LaToya screamed out upon hearing the verdict, while his crying mother, Katherine, was consoled by her son, Jermaine Jackson.
jackson fans murray guilty sign 640
Nov. 7, 2011: Michael Jackson fans celebrate outside the courtroom.
Conrad Murray Court Final Days 640
Oct. 25: Dr. Conrad Murray listens to testimony during his involuntary manslaughter trial in Los Angeles. A verdict was reached in the case Monday, Nov. 7.
Related Slideshow
In this Feb. 28, 1984 file photo, Michael Jackson is seen backstage at the 26th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles as he poses with the awards he won in eight different categories. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, file)
Remembering Michael Jackson
A look back at the life and death of Michael Jackson.
Related Slideshow
The Many Faces of Michael Jackson
On the one year anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson - we look back at the many faces the King of Pop had throughout his career...
Related Video
Case Against Michael Jackson's Doctor Goes to Jury
Deliberations begin in Murray manslaughter trial
Related Stories
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly At the Trial of Dr. Conrad Murray
jackson fans cheer verdict 640
Nov. 7, 2011: Fans of Michael Jackson outside the courtroom.
Murray's supporters looked somber over the news, with one shaking her head back and forth, mouthing the word "no."
Jackson fans who had gathered outside the courtroom burst into applause and cheered as the verdict, "Guilty!," was announced.
The decision was reached after less than nine hours of deliberation. The prosecution asked for Murray to be remanded into custody immediately. “He is now a convicted felon,” prosecutor David Walgren said.
Defense lawyer Ed Chernoff argued that he is not danger to the community before Murray was escorted out of the courtroom by the Sheriff.
Jackson died on June 25, 2009. The complete story of his death finally emerged during the six-week trial. It was the tale of a tormented genius on the brink of what might have been his greatest triumph with one impediment standing in his way -- extreme insomnia.
Testimony came from medical experts, household employees and Murray's former girlfriends, among others.
The most shocking moments, however, came when prosecutors displayed a large picture of Jackson's gaunt, lifeless body on a hospital gurney and played the sound of his drugged, slurred voice, as recorded by Murray just weeks before the singer's death.
Jackson talked about plans for a fantastic children's hospital and his hope of cementing a legacy larger than that of Elvis Presley or The Beatles.
"We have to be phenomenal," he said about his "This Is It" concerts in London. "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."'
Throughout the trial, Jackson family members watched from the spectator gallery, fans gathered outside with signs and T-shirts demanding, "Justice for Michael," and an international press corps broadcast reports around the world. The trial was televised and streamed on the Internet.
Prosecutors portrayed Murray as an incompetent doctor who used the anesthetic propofol without adequate safeguards and whose neglect left Jackson abandoned as he lay dying.
Murray's lawyers sought to show the doctor was a medical angel of mercy with former patients vouching for his skills. Murray told police from the outset that he gave Jackson propofol and other sedatives as the star struggled for sleep to prepare for his shows. But the doctor said he administered only a small dose on the day Jackson died.
Lawyers for Murray and a defense expert blamed Jackson for his own death, saying the singer gave himself the fatal dose of propofol while Murray wasn't watching. A prosecution expert said that theory was crazy.
Murray said he had formed a close friendship with Jackson, never meant to harm him and couldn't explain why he died.
The circumstances of Jackson's death at the age of 50 were as bizarre as any chapter in the superstar's sensational life story.
Jackson was found not breathing in his own bed in his rented mansion after being dosed intravenously with propofol, a drug normally administered in hospitals during surgery.
The coroner ruled the case a homicide and the blame would fall to the last person who had seen Jackson alive -- Murray, who had been hired to care for the singer as the comeback concerts neared.
Craving sleep, Jackson had searched for a doctor who would give him the intravenous anesthetic that Jackson called his "milk" and believed to be his salvation. Other medical professionals turned him down, according to trial testimony.
Murray gave up his practices in Houston and Las Vegas and agreed to travel with Jackson and work as his personal physician indefinitely.
For six weeks, as Jackson undertook strenuous rehearsals, Murray infused him with propofol every night, the doctor told police. He later tried to wean Jackson from the drug because he feared he was becoming addicted.
Jackson planned to pay Murray $150,000 a month for an extended tour in Europe. In the end, the doctor was never paid a penny because Jackson died before signing the contract.
During the last 24 hours of his life, Jackson sang and danced at a spirited rehearsal, reveling in the adulation of fans who greeted him outside. Then came a night of horror, chasing sleep -- the most elusive treasure the millionaire entertainer could not buy.
Testimony showed Murray gave Jackson intravenous doses that night of the sedatives lorazepam and midazolam. Jackson also took a Valium pill. But nothing seemed to bring sleep.
Finally, Murray told police, he gave the singer a small dose of propofol -- 25 milligrams -- that seemed to put him to sleep. The doctor said he felt it was safe to leave his patient's bedside for a few minutes, but Jackson was not breathing when he returned.
Witnesses said he was most likely dead at that point.
What happened next was a matter of dispute during the trial. Security and household staff described Murray as panicked, never calling emergency services but trying to give Jackson CPR on his bed instead of the firm floor.
A guard said Murray was concerned with packing up and hiding medicine bottles and IV equipment before telling him to call emergency services. Prosecutors said Murray was distracted while Jackson was sedated, citing Murray's cell phone records to show he made numerous calls.
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Man United vs Sunderland Player Ratings
Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated 25 years in charge of Manchester United with victory over Sunderland thanks to a helping hand from one of his former players.
Manchester United
Anders Lindegaard - 7
Hardly tested throughout the game and was solid when called upon, justifying the choice to pick him instead of David De Gea.
Nemanja Vidic - 7.5
The Serbian hardman showed why United missed him so much, winning most of the aerial challenges and stood firm against anything Sunderland threw at him.
Rio Ferdinand - 6.5
It seems like Vidic brings out the best in him. Ferdinand was easily calm and steady at the back and was hardly bothered by Ji Dong-won and Bendtner throughout.
Patrice Evra - 7
Showed more maturity by not bombing forward, choosing to keep an eye on Larsson instead. He looked lethal whenever he went forward, linking up well with Welbeck.
Phil Jones - 7
Curbed his tendency to go on the barnstorming run and kept close to Sessegnon, who was coming into the match in good form.
Wayne Rooney - 8
He looked comfortable playing deep and distributing the ball across the field while taking care of defensive duties. Hardly put a pass wrong and was definitely one of United's best players. Imagine what he could have done up front.
Darren Fletcher (Off 90')- 6.5
Swept up the midfield easily and looked for the ball to Rooney all the time. Fletcher was hardly bothered by Sunderland's generally immobile midfield.
Park Ji-Sung (Off 83') - 6
Another industrous performance by the Korean but all his running lacked an end product as his final pass failed him consistently.
Nani - 6
One of his poorer games as he lacked the creativity needed to break down the stubborn Sunderland defence. His corner kick did set up United's goal, though, and had a chance cleared off the line by Richardson.
Javier Hernández - 6.5
Spurned two excellent chances from inside the box to put the ball into the net, but proved that he knew how to play football outside the penalty box with a lively performance in the second half.
Danny Welbeck (Off 73') - 6
Welbeck seems to have some sentiment for the club he spent last season on loan at, being rather reluctant to run the ball through the defense. However, he did head home the goal and earned his side the win.
Substitutes
Michael Carrick (On 83') - N/A
Dimitar Berbatov (On 73') - N/A
Fabio da Silva (On 90') - N/A
Sunderland
Kieren Westwood - 8
Proved that he was a more-than-able deputy for Simon Mignolet, pulling off an excellent double save to deny Rooney and Evra.
Wes Brown - 5.5
Continued his record as ‘Own-goal King' at Old Trafford by turning the ball into his own net - luckily, he was not playing for United. One could only imagine if what would happen in the dressing room if he did that for the home side on Sir Alex Ferguson's 25th anniversary.
Michael Turner - 7
Controlled and coordinated the defense well, denying space to the United forwards. Ironically, he's the best-performing defender and the only one not to have been from Manchester United.
Kieran Richardson - 6.5
The former United midfielder-turn-defender came to his side's rescue with a goal-line clearance and kept Nani tame throughout the match.
Phillip Bardsley - 6
A quiet game from Bardsley as he looked happy to just sit back and defend for his side; didn't see much of the ball because of that.
Jack Colback (Off 76') - 5.5
The youngster was generally inefficient in the middle, failing to find his teammates with the through pass, choosing to delay the play by playing the safe pass back. Could have done more if he dared to try more.
Lee Cattermole - 6
His usual tenacious self and tried his best to keep Rooney from imposing himself on the game, forcing the England man to play from deep.
Stephane Sessegnon (Off 76') - 5.5
A very quiet game in contrast to his performance last week against Aston Villa, where he set up a goal and scored another. Shackled by Jones and couldn't find space to break through.
Sebastian Larsson - 7
Sunderland's biggest threat with his crossing skills, setting up most of their chances which includes one that Bendtner should have tapped in from close range.
Connor Wickham(Off 5') - N/A
Unfortunate to have landed awkwardly on his ankle and was taken off early.
Nicklas Bendtner - 5.5
The former Arsenal man was threatening early on, almost scoring after Larsson sent in an excellent cross, but faded as the game went on. Could have done better against an aging Ferdinand.
Substitutes
Ji Dong-won (On 5')- 5.5
Coming in from deep, Ji Dong-won failed to pose a threat to the United defense and was reduced to long shots which he blasted over most of the time.
David Meyler (On 76') - N/A
Ahmed Elmohamady (On 76') - N/A
Manchester United
Anders Lindegaard - 7
Hardly tested throughout the game and was solid when called upon, justifying the choice to pick him instead of David De Gea.
Nemanja Vidic - 7.5
The Serbian hardman showed why United missed him so much, winning most of the aerial challenges and stood firm against anything Sunderland threw at him.
Rio Ferdinand - 6.5
It seems like Vidic brings out the best in him. Ferdinand was easily calm and steady at the back and was hardly bothered by Ji Dong-won and Bendtner throughout.
Patrice Evra - 7
Showed more maturity by not bombing forward, choosing to keep an eye on Larsson instead. He looked lethal whenever he went forward, linking up well with Welbeck.
Phil Jones - 7
Curbed his tendency to go on the barnstorming run and kept close to Sessegnon, who was coming into the match in good form.
Wayne Rooney - 8
He looked comfortable playing deep and distributing the ball across the field while taking care of defensive duties. Hardly put a pass wrong and was definitely one of United's best players. Imagine what he could have done up front.
Darren Fletcher (Off 90')- 6.5
Swept up the midfield easily and looked for the ball to Rooney all the time. Fletcher was hardly bothered by Sunderland's generally immobile midfield.
Park Ji-Sung (Off 83') - 6
Another industrous performance by the Korean but all his running lacked an end product as his final pass failed him consistently.
Nani - 6
One of his poorer games as he lacked the creativity needed to break down the stubborn Sunderland defence. His corner kick did set up United's goal, though, and had a chance cleared off the line by Richardson.
Javier Hernández - 6.5
Spurned two excellent chances from inside the box to put the ball into the net, but proved that he knew how to play football outside the penalty box with a lively performance in the second half.
Danny Welbeck (Off 73') - 6
Welbeck seems to have some sentiment for the club he spent last season on loan at, being rather reluctant to run the ball through the defense. However, he did head home the goal and earned his side the win.
Substitutes
Michael Carrick (On 83') - N/A
Dimitar Berbatov (On 73') - N/A
Fabio da Silva (On 90') - N/A
Sunderland
Kieren Westwood - 8
Proved that he was a more-than-able deputy for Simon Mignolet, pulling off an excellent double save to deny Rooney and Evra.
Wes Brown - 5.5
Continued his record as ‘Own-goal King' at Old Trafford by turning the ball into his own net - luckily, he was not playing for United. One could only imagine if what would happen in the dressing room if he did that for the home side on Sir Alex Ferguson's 25th anniversary.
Michael Turner - 7
Controlled and coordinated the defense well, denying space to the United forwards. Ironically, he's the best-performing defender and the only one not to have been from Manchester United.
Kieran Richardson - 6.5
The former United midfielder-turn-defender came to his side's rescue with a goal-line clearance and kept Nani tame throughout the match.
Phillip Bardsley - 6
A quiet game from Bardsley as he looked happy to just sit back and defend for his side; didn't see much of the ball because of that.
Jack Colback (Off 76') - 5.5
The youngster was generally inefficient in the middle, failing to find his teammates with the through pass, choosing to delay the play by playing the safe pass back. Could have done more if he dared to try more.
Lee Cattermole - 6
His usual tenacious self and tried his best to keep Rooney from imposing himself on the game, forcing the England man to play from deep.
Stephane Sessegnon (Off 76') - 5.5
A very quiet game in contrast to his performance last week against Aston Villa, where he set up a goal and scored another. Shackled by Jones and couldn't find space to break through.
Sebastian Larsson - 7
Sunderland's biggest threat with his crossing skills, setting up most of their chances which includes one that Bendtner should have tapped in from close range.
Connor Wickham(Off 5') - N/A
Unfortunate to have landed awkwardly on his ankle and was taken off early.
Nicklas Bendtner - 5.5
The former Arsenal man was threatening early on, almost scoring after Larsson sent in an excellent cross, but faded as the game went on. Could have done better against an aging Ferdinand.
Substitutes
Ji Dong-won (On 5')- 5.5
Coming in from deep, Ji Dong-won failed to pose a threat to the United defense and was reduced to long shots which he blasted over most of the time.
David Meyler (On 76') - N/A
Ahmed Elmohamady (On 76') - N/A
Video: M5 crash: 'I just saw flames coming up out of the trucks'
Drivers and passengers were burned alive in a pile-up on the M5 that threatens to become the worst motorway accident in British history. The official number of dead following multiple collisions on the M5 near Bridgwater in Somerset had reached seven on Saturday night, with 51 injured, but Anthony Bangham, assistant chief constable of Avon and Somerset police, said the number killed would rise as officers searched wrecked and burnt-out vehicles.
Some of the dead remained trapped in their charred vehicles. Bangham said many of the lorries and cars smashed on the northbound carriageway were "burned literally to the ground".
Eyewitnesses reported how the crash triggered a massive fireball that could be seen miles away. One said: "People were trapped in their vehicles. I heard people screaming and children crying. There was also fuel which had spilled on to the road surface which was exploding."
Those involved claim the pile-up was triggered shortly after an Iceland truck vanished in the fog. Ciara Neno, from Weston-super-Mare, said: "A black fog came down and the Iceland truck literally disappeared. We managed to brake and miss the lorry but it was too late, the carnage had already started. All we heard was thump, thump, thump. My husband dragged people from the cars, the smell was horrendous and there were a number of explosions. We walked away but other people weren't so lucky."
The tragedy is likely to renew the debate about motorway safety. It comes just weeks after the government announced plans to raise the speed limit to 80mph. Thirty-four vehicles were involved in the accident, which happened at 8.25pm on Friday.
"I could see the flames from quite a way back," said Simon Bruford, 38, from Williton in Somerset, who was driving south at the time of the collision. "I spent 18 years in the Somerset fire service and have seen a lot of nasty things, but that was horrific."
The vicar at St Mary Magdalene church in Taunton said the town was in shock. The Rev Rod Corke added: "My heart goes out to those who have suffered as a result of this tragedy."
In 1993, 12 children and their teacher died when their minibus smashed into the back of another vehicle on the M40 in Warwickshire. Two other motorway accidents, in 1984 and 1985, each claimed 13 lives. But experts said Friday's tragedy was more comparable with a multi-vehicle collision on the M4 near Hungerford, Berkshire, in 1991, when 10 people died and 25 were injured in a 51-vehicle smash.
The stretch of the M5 where the latest tragedy occurred is not considered a traffic blackspot. Ppolice were investigating the possibility that thick, patchy fog had rapidly descended on the motorway, dramatically cutting visibility.
Weather forecasters said conditions had been misty in the area of the incident and any bonfires burning nearby could have made things worse.
"The particles bonfires release encourage fog droplets to form," said Gareth Harvey, a forecaster at MeteoGroup. "By 9pm there were weather stations in the county reporting visibility down to 100 metres. The roads would also have been wet due to an earlier deluge."
The scene was close to Bridgwater's Guy Fawkes carnival and it has been suggested that smoke from the event could have combined with the fog to reduce visibility. A nearby smallholding also had a large bonfire which was seen to be giving off smoke.
Bangham pledged a comprehensive and thorough investigation into what caused the tragedy. "Other factors come into play in the evening and we need to take a close look to see if they caused some kind of distraction," he said. He confirmed police would be talking to the organisers of the carnival as part of the inquiry.
Coalition ministers are to launch a consultation later this year with a view to introducing an 80mph limit on motorways in 2013.
But the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton Deane, Jeremy Browne, said the accident should be not be used to shape the debate about motorway speed limits. "People talk about speed limits, 70mph or 80mph, but the crucial thing is to make a judgment about what is the safe speed limit for the conditions you find yourself in," Browne said.
"I was in Taunton last night and it was a pretty wet, dank and misty night. Visibility can be bad on that stretch of low-lying road but it is a pretty unremarkable stretch of motorway."
A huge contingent of police, fire and ambulance crews was called to the affected stretch of motorway, which was closed in both directions.
"It was a highly complex, very traumatic incident for our services and officers," Bangham said. When asked whether there were still further dead bodies at the crash scene, Bangham said: "Yes, I'm afraid there are. For a motorway incident this is just about as big as it gets."
He praised the heroism of the emergency services and members of the public, who attempted to pull people from burning vehicles. "The intensity of the fire – it was a fireball on the carriageway – made it incredibly difficult for people to approach. People did their very best."
Colombia leftist guerrilla leader Alfonso Cano killed
Alfonso Cano, the top leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, was killed by Colombian troops during an anti-guerrilla operation, a local governor announced.
"The military has thus achieve
d one of its most important goals," Alberto Gonzalez Mosquera, governor of Cauca department, told local radio.
Elite Colombian forces had been hunting Alfonso Cano, 63, for three years since he had ascended to the top of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, following the death in 2008 from a heart attack of Manuel Marulanda, the guerrillas’ legendary leader. Earlier that same year, Colombian forces killed FARC’s second-in-command, Raúl Reyes, in a raid carried out on Ecuadorean soil."The military has thus achieve
The setbacks suffered by FARC, which also included the killing last year of their field marshal known as Mono Jojoy, form part of a broad weakening of the rebel group during the past decade, with hundreds of its combatants deserting in recent years and its ranks thinning considerably from a peak of an estimated 17,000.
The military operation by some 1,000 soldiers that killed Mr. Cano, a hard-liner who joined FARC after dabbling in university politics in Bogotá, the capital, was code-named “Odyssey,” a word that could also describe Colombia’s long, meandering struggle against FARC, a Marxist-inspired group which has financed itself from the cocaine trade and abductions.
The killing of Mr. Cano in Cauca, a region in southwest Colombia, allowed some in the country to ponder whether FARC was finally being marginalized as a security threat. “No one else can keep the group together like he did,” said Marta Lucia Ramírez, a former Colombian defense minister, speaking of Mr. Cano.
“They’ve stopped being a threat for Colombian democracy,” said Ms. Ramírez, “but they continue being a threat to the citizenry.”
FARC still has the capacity to carry out deadly attacks on Colombia’s security forces. In the space of a few days last month, one attack attributed to the group killed 10 soldiers in the southern province, of Nariño and killed 10 more soldiers in Arauca, near the border with Venezuela.
Mr. Cano, a bespectacled, bearded former anthropologist, had adopted his nom de guerre after joining FARC. He grew up in Bogotá’s middle class; his real name was Guillermo Saenz. With his bookish appearance, Mr. Cano differed from others with rougher origins in FARC’s high command.
Juan Carlos Pinzón, Colombia’s defense minister, said Mr. Cano was clean-shaven when he was killed in a firefight after fleeing a bombing raid. He said the operation killed four other guerrillas, while five others were captured, which would be a surprisingly small amount of men accompanying FARC’s top commander.
“His wallet, glasses and weapons were recovered,” Mr. Pinzón told journalists in Bogotá. Mr. Cano’s body was taken to the city of Popayán, and a photograph was distributed to Colombian media. He declined to comment on whether the United States, the top provider of military aid to Colombia, had assisted in the operation.
Ariel Ávila, a conflict analyst with the Colombian think tank Arco Iris, said that Mr. Cano’s killing dealt a political blow to FARC, since he symbolized the group’s small amount of support in urban areas, as well as a military blow, since Mr. Cano had overseen a more aggressive strategy of holding ground against advances by Colombia’s army.
“The military forces can take a deep breath” Mr. Ávila said Saturday from Bogotá. “But this isn’t the end of the guerrillas; they still have some time left.”
Indeed, despite the killings of prominent FARC leaders, Colombia’s war against that and other armed groups has entered a complicated new phase. Advances against FARC and the National Liberation Army, or E.L.N., a smaller guerrilla group, have squeezed the insurgents into border areas with Venezuela and Ecuador.
Colombia’s president, Juan Manuel Santos, has improved relations with both countries, and Venezuela and Ecuador seem to be cooperating more with the capture of some midlevel guerrillas. But once the rebels cross Colombia’s borders and onto neighboring soil, they still face much less pressure from well-trained Colombian forces which have pursued them for years.
Two FARC commanders who have operated along Colombia’s border with Venezuela, Iván Márquez and José Benito Cabrera (who uses the alias Timochenko), are thought to be contenders to take Mr. Cano’s place. But analysts of Colombia’s war against FARC say Mr. Cano’s successor will face challenges in maintaining unity among the group’s various factions.
FARC’s weakening has also raised the possibility that a new top commander might engage in talks with Colombia’s government to seek an end to the long guerrilla war. Of the options left to FARC, Gustavo Petro, the newly elected mayor of Bogotá and himself a former guerrilla with the M-19 group, said, “Dialogue is the only way
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)