>>> now to the trial of michael jackson 's doctor conrad murray entering its second week after opening with several days of powerful testimony. in a moment his former administrative assistant speaks out in an exclusive live interview. first nbc's jeff rossen is in los angeles with the latest on this story. jeff, good morning.
>> reporter: good morning to you. week one in this trial was explosive. here we go, getting ready to set the table for week two in this trial, that has garnered a lot of attention, and we are right in the heart right now of the prosecution's case, trying not only to show that dr. conrad murray gave michael jackson a deadly dose of propofol but also that he was trying to cover it up all along the way. we've heard from michael jackson 's friends, and his employees, and now we're hearing from the paramedics from the lapd who were here that day and responded to his mansion the day he died, and they claim dr. murray was lying from the get-go.
>> he's not breathing and we need to, we're trying to pump him but he's not, he's not --
>> okay.
>> reporter: when paramedics arrived at michael jackson 's mansion they say he already appeared dead.
>> describe dr. murray 's demeanor, please.
>> frantic.
>> reporter: on the stands friday those paramedics offered damaging testimony against dr. conrad murray .
>> what i said initially of course was, "what's his underlying condition?" at that point he said, "no, he's not taking anything," and then he followed that up with, "i just gave him a little bit of lorazepam to sleep."
>> did dr. murray ever mention having administered propofol to michael jackson ?
>> no he did not ever mention propofol.
>> reporter: doctors say he gave jackson a lethal dose of propofol right before michael jackson 's death.
>> the blowout for conrad murray was not only that he was not truthful with the paramedic and the firefighter but also the fact that, had they had been given the right information there was a chance of saving michael jackson 's life.
>> reporter: but dr. murray has his supporters. how is he doing? is he scared?
>> no, he's actually doing very well. stacey ruggles was murray 's assistant at the time. he says the only man to blame for michael jackson 's death is michael jackson himself.
>> in no way shape or form could i imagine dr. murray causing a death to anyone, anyone, and to say that he is to blame for this i do not believe that.
>> reporter: but was he negligent?
>> i don't feel he was negligent.
>> reporter: in fact when cross-examining the paramedics, murray 's defense attorney tried to paint dr. murray as a well-intentioned physician.
>> would it be fair to say that dr. murray also did everything in his power to help mr. jackson at that time?
>> yes.
>> he wasn't just standing around and talking on the telephone or researching the computer, correct in.
>> no, he was not.
>> reporter: by the way, there was drama outside the courthouse as well, right here on the "today" show on friday, ann, as you know you interviewed standing in this very location one of the members of the murray defense team, there he is right there. shortly after the interview hours later this lawyer was hauled into court before the judge who said he was shocked to see this live interview on the "today" show, saying this lawyer may actually be in contempt of court. he's even set a hearing date in the future. the defense team says he had every right to talk and they do object and so we'll follow that through and see how that goes, but either way , the judge now saying all lawyers in this case on both sides, no longer allowed to speak about it publicly. ann?
>> jeff rossen , thank you so much for that.
>>> stacy rugles began working for dr. murray in 1997 , scheduled to testify as a prosecution witness tuesday. we saw her a moment ago in jeff's piece, now joining us exclusively. ms. ruggles , good morning.
>> good morning.
>> you were able to speak to dr. murray on the phone, i understand, just recently. can you describe his emotions as he is facing these charges during this trial?
>> yes, ma'am. he was very upbeat, positive, and very happy that this trial had begun.
>> why would you say that's the case? why would he be happy that the trial has begun? why would you say he would be upbeat, given he's been charged with recklessness and negligence?
>> you know, to be honest with you, i don't know, but he's a very positive person. he's a very faithful person, and he's -- all i can say is that he's glad to be going forward, so he can move forward with his life, he can move on and everyone else can move on.
>> you have worked for him, have known him for some 16 years. you just said in the piece we just saw that you don't believe that he could be guilty of these charges, but what is it that you know about him that makes you disbelieve that he could be, have been reckless or negligent when it comes to michael jackson ?
>> i've never seen dr. murray negligent in any way, shape or form. he has saved hundreds of lives. he's opened clinics in different parts of the united states and including trinidad, tobego, in order to help underprivileged people. it's not his nature, never been his nature. anyone you talk to that knows him personally would tell you the same thing.
>> on the morning of june 25th , 2009 , the day that michael jackson died, there was a moment where you were on the phone with dr. murray . what happened in that telephone conversation ? and did you gain anything, glean anything for what was about to happen from that telephone conversation ?
>> which telephone conversation are we talking about?
>> you spoke to dr. murray on the day that --
>> i spoke to him sunday.
>> tell us the nature of these conversations and if you got any sort of hint that something was askew, something was going to happen or something was wrong with michael jackson .
>> no, when i spoke to dr. murray there was no indication. he sounded fine. he sounded his usual self.
>> you're going to testify tomorrow for the prosecution and yet you're talking to us today basical basically in defense of the man you work for. why are you coming out now and speaking publicly in.
>> it's come to light to me that people don't really understand this man. they don't know who dr. murray is. dr. murray and michael jackson 's beliefs were pretty much the same. they both believed in world peace . they believed we could all live together harmoniously, and he is about love as well, and i think that might have been what connected the two of them together.
>> i see. can i ask you this, did the defense or any member of the defense team ask you to speak to us today?
>> no, not at all.
>> all right, stacey ruggles , thank
Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44765357/ns/today-entertainment/
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