The prosecutor who will lead the manslaughter case against Dr. Conrad Murray said in court that Murray's lawyers plan to argue that Michael Jackson gave himself the dose of Propofol that killed him while Murray was out of the room. L.A. County Deputy District Attorney David Walgren told the judge, "I do think it's clear the defense is operating under the theory that the victim, Michael Jackson, killed himself." TMZ reported months ago that Murray's attorneys planned to argue that when the doctor left Jackson's bedroom to go to the bathroom, an insomnia-plagued Jackson awakened and in a moment of frustration took a massive dose of Propofol. Walgren said in court, "They don't want to say it but that's the direction in which they are going.
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Meanwhile, the executors of Michael Jackson's estate fired off an outraged letter to the Discovery Channel, which plans to televise a show in Europe Jan. 13 that will feature a re-enactment of Jackson's autopsy. In the letter, co-executors John Branca and John McClain accuse the network of operating in "shockingly bad taste ... motivated solely by your blind desire to exploit Michael's death, while cynically attempting to dupe the public into believing this show will have serious medical value." The letter says they were "especially outraged when a sickening print advertisement for the program appeared," showing a body on a gurney with one hand exposed -- wearing a sequined glove. The letter calls the ad, seen at left, "debased, sick and insensitive." The letter, dated Dec. 29, closes: "On behalf of Michael's family, fans, common sense and decency, we urge you to reconsider and cancel this program."
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In her new book, former "Full House" child star Candace Cameron Bure admits that she has waged a battle with bulimia. Bure, 34, the younger sister of star Kirk Cameron, called binging and purging "a very dangerous cycle that can just start to consume your life and really take over." She says she started to practice bulimia after "Full House" went off the air in 1995, while she was adjusting to life in Canada with her new husband, Russian-born NHL player Valeri Bure. "It wasn't about me trying to lose weight," says Cameron Bure. "It was all about emotions." Cameron Bure, now starring in the ABC Family series "Make It or Break It," reveals her eating disorder in her new autobiography, "Reshaping it All." She and Bure have three children, Natasha, 12; Lev, 10; and Maks, 8.
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"Teen Mom" reality show star Amber Portwood has not been barred from custody of her 2-year-old daughter after Portwood pleaded not guilty to attacking the toddler's father during filming of the MTV show. Portwood's attorney, Robert Schembs, told CBS' "The Early Show" Wednesday, "My understanding, based on conversations yesterday, is that [Leah, 2] should be back with her mom some time today. All reports are that she's doing a nice job with her." Police did tell the media Tuesday that a protective order barred the troubled reality star from contact with her baby, but the county prosecutor said Wednesday that Portwood was only banned from having contact with her daughter's father, Gary Shirley, whom she is accused of beating. Schembs also says that Portwood is taking the charges "very seriously" and says she could be facing "a lot of time" behind bars on the three felony charges — two counts of domestic battery and one count of neglect of a dependent, along with one misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. If convicted on all the charges, she could face up to three years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
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Nicole Richie is ending the year on a high note. Not only is she newly married to Joel Madden, the father of her children, she's also off probation for her 2006 DUI arrest. The probation was scheduled to continue for another few months, but Richie got the all-clear after her attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, presented the judge with proof Richie had completed all the terms of probation. The documents included a glowing report from the alcohol ed program in which she's been enrolled for the last 18 months. Richie was arrested in 2006 after she was seen driving the wrong way on an L.A. freeway.
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Disney star Demi Lovato, far right in the photo, was spotted out with her family on a day off from rehab looking very different, with dyed dark brown hair, black nail polish, and dark maroon lipstick. Lovato spent a few hours at a movie theater with her mother, Dianna, stepfather, Eddie, and her two sisters, Dallas and Madison, who made the trip from their California home to Chicago to see her. Lovato checked into the Illinois treatment center in October for treatment of "physical and emotional issues" after punching Jonas Brothers backup dancer Alex Welch in the face over a misunderstanding. Last week, Lovato reached a financial settlement with Welch. "The parties are satisfied and the dispute has been resolved amicably and completely," Welch's attorney, Donald Karpel, told TMZ. Lovato remains in rehab with no release date set, which has delayed the arrival of her next album.
-- Anne Neville
