JOIN USBut Jackson's ambition to make the grandest comeback with 'This Is It', was to remain unfulfilled with his death eight weeks later.
Conrad Murray, Jackson's doctor at the time of his death, has been accused of involuntary manslaughter in the singers death by administering the powerful anesthetic propofol, which led to his death. Murray has pleaded not guilty. He faces four years in prison if convicted.
A team of 12 jurors saw a photograph of Jackson's dead body and heard his voice during the prosecution's opening statement on the first day of the trial.
Prosecutor David Walgren said the audio file was found from Murray's phone by forensic experts and showed that the physician had taped his patient "highly under the influence of unknown agents" two and a half months before his June 25, 2009 death at the age of 50.
Jackson's voice is weak and raspy in the recording as he mumbles about the importance of his concert series.
"We have to be phenomenal. When people leave this show, when people leave my show, I want them to say, 'I've never seen anything like this in my life... I'm taking that money, a million children, children's hospital, the biggest in the world, Michael Jackson's Children's Hospital," says Jackson.
Walgren said Jackson's "misplaced trust" in Murray cost him his life. Defense attorney Ed Chernoff claimed that Jackson took the drugs himself because Murray refused to give them to him. He also said that Murray was not in the room when Jackson took the drugs.
Chernoff told jurors that Jackson "self-administered" doses of propofol and Lorazepam which "created a perfect storm in his body that killed him instantly."
When Murray found him, Jackson was already dead and no Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or paramedic treatment could have revived him, Chernoff said. Chernoff said Walgren undersold the significance of the concerts, which the singer hoped would relaunch him.
"He needed to do these shows. This was his show. This was how he was going to be remembered." The attorny said that one of Jackson's other doctors got him addicted to Demerol before Murray took over. Jackson suffered not just from insomnia but from "an absolute, total and thorough inability to sleep."
He said Jackson always used propofol to sleep when he was touring and Murray was actually trying to get him off it. 'This Is It' choreographer Kenny Ortega, who took the stand, claimed that Jackson was ill in the days leading to his death and Murray dismissed his concern.
Ortega says Jackson was "very excited" about the show and in mid to late June, 2009 he missed several rehearsals, prompting him to sent an email to AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips, saying Jackson needed psychological help.
"He appeared quite weak and fatigued this evening. He had a terrible case of chills, was trembling, rambling and obsessing. Everything in me says he should be psychologically evaluated," read Ortega's mail on June 20. The singer was dead nine days later.