It's not clear if Murray will take the stand in his defense, but the evidence so far does not bode well for the Caribbean national.
He never met his father Rawle Andrews, a doctor in Houston Texas, until he came to the U.S. in 1978. He enrolled at Texas Southern University in 1980, where he graduated magna *advertiser censored* laude in three years. His father was beloved in his community for providing medical aid to the poor. Murray followed his footsteps, attending his father's alma mater, Meharry Medical College, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Murray continued his training at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and finished his residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center in California. After specializing in cardiology at University of Arizona, he returned to California and became Associate Director for the international cardiology training program at Sharp Memorial Hospital. In 2000 Murray began his private practice, Global Cardiovascular Associates, in Las Vegas. In honor of his father's charitable example, Murray later opened a clinic in Houston, the Acres Homes Heart and Vascular Institute, to provide care to a poor and predominately African-American community.Perhaps Jackson, a renowned philanthropist himself, was drawn to Murray's philanthropic nature; or could it be that he needed a doctor who would treat him without question.The jury is still out on that one. Whatever the reason, Jackson chose Dr. Murray, who despite his professional success, was drowning in debt.
Murray had numerous tax liens, mortgage debt, lawsuits, and unpaid child support payments for children from extramarital relationships. He owed more than $400,000 in court decisions alone against his Las Vegas practice.
At $150,000 a month, overseeing Jackson's health would give Murray the financial lifeboat he needed. In June 2009, after working with Jackson for a month, Murray closed his Las Vegas practice.
"Because of a once in a lifetime opportunity, I had to make a most difficult decision to cease [the] practice of medicine indefinitely," he wrote his patients, unaware that just 10 days later he would be standing at the bedside of a dead Michael Jackson and subsequently dealing with the repercussions.
What seemed to have been Murray's big break ended in a most catastrophic situation, with Jackson dead and Murray now fighting to clear his name.
Reports say Jackson did not sign the contract with Murray before he died, leaving Murray unpaid for his work.Murray's defense says it was his philanthropic nature why he was subservient to Jackson's addiction. "His one big fault is that he could never turn down someone who needed his services," said his lawyer Ed Chernoff.
http://www.cnweeklynews.com/news/us-news/2970-dr-who
