Talk about grasping at straws.
Facing involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Michael Jackson, Dr. Conrad Murray has to try something when his trial begins in March.
Arguing that Michael's failing health makes it unfair to solely blame the physician? We can see that having some merit. But this is just ridiculous.
According to a new report, Murray's lawyers will suggest that MJ's final, conscious act was to reach for a bottle of Propofol and chug it like soda.
MARGINAL: Murray's theories feel a bit like throwing stuff at the wall.
Dr. Conrad Murray pleaded not guilty to the felony charge last month. How he plans to fight the charge has prompted much speculation and controversy.
In a police affidavit it said that Dr. Murray told police Jackson craved Propofol, an anesthetic, to treat insomnia and referred to the drug as his "milk."
According to anesthesiologist Dr. Barry Friedberg, Murray will argue that "Jackson could have swallowed Propofol" himself with Murray out of the room.
Friedberg says there appears to be a small amount of evidence to support the defense's theory - traces of the drug in the star's digestive system.
During the preliminary hearing, a prosecution witness conceded that it appeared plausible that Michael Jackson "self-ingested" some Propofol.
So it could have gotten there from drinking the sedative. However, that doesn't automatically free Murray from responsibility, even if it is true.
It's a doctor's responsibility to create a "safe environment" and carefully monitor a patient, which could make Murray's version of events irrelevant.
Still, Murray's team feels it has an opening, and that their client cannot be held responsible if Jackson did himself in, which they've long insinuated.
"I'm curious as to how "safe" Dr. Friedberg thinks a doctor must be to prevent a patient from injecting himself or drinking a drug when he leaves the room," Murray's lead defense attorney Ed Chernoff told People.
The pop star's father, Joe Jackson, is among many outraged.
"That's bull$h!t," Joe said. "It's not possible that Michael would do that. The whole family knows – and Michael's fans all over the world know – that this is not true. It's a lie. It's a lie and we're outraged about it."