Update 10:48 a.m.
Judge Michael Pastor has dismissed the jury with the morning break, as he announces scheduling conflicts force him to end the court session for the day.
Conrad Murray's defense team quickly went through a lineup of character witnesses for the doctor, patients of Murray's who all testified that he'd provided great care to them.
One patient, Gerry Causey, called Murray his "best friend" and shook Murray's hand and kissed him on the forehead as he left the stand, while another said Murray had provided treatment to him free of charge when he couldn't afford to pay.
Murray cried at several points during the witnesses' testimony.
Previously …
A lineup of character witnesses will be among the final defense team witnesses as the Conrad Murray involuntary manslaughter trial draws close to its end.
CNN.com reports that five character witnesses, including patients of Murray's from Texas and Las Vegas, will take the stand today.
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Then two medical experts — including the defense's anesthesiology expert Dr. Paul White, who's already facing a contempt of court hearing after allegedly calling fellow anesthesiologist Dr. Steven Shafer a scumbag — will wrap up the defense's case before the trial is sent to the jury.
CNN.com estimates the defense could end its case on Friday, meaning the jury would get the case as early as Monday.
Randy Phillips, the CEO of AEG, which was promoting Michael Jackson's planned comeback concerts in London, testified that Jackson missed some rehearsals and was worried that AEG would cancel the performances. But Phillips said he had no such plans.
But Murray's defense team contends that Jackson's fear of cancellations made him "desperate" to sleep so he would be prepared to perform. Murray's attorneys say Jackson's desperation led the singer to self-administer a fatal dose of drugs.
The Los Angeles County coroner ruled Jackson died of "acute propofol intoxication," and that sedatives were also a factor. Prosecutors contend Murray is criminally liable for Jackson's death because he recklessly administered the propofol, a potent surgical anesthetic drug, and was negligent in properly monitoring Jackson.
Phillips also testified that he told Murray that Jackson was seeing another doctor, Beverly Hills dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein, because he thought Jackson "seemed a little distracted and not focused" after visiting Klein's office.
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The defense contends that Jackson was addicted to Demerol, a painkiller they say Klein gave the singer, and that it made him unable to sleep the day he died.
Tuesday's testimony began with nurse Cherilyn Lee, who tried to treat Jackson's insomnia with natural methods. When that failed, the pop star asked her to obtain propofol for him, and she refused, she said.
Conrad Murray faces up to four years in prison and loss of his medical license if convicted, though a new California law could mean his sentence would be reduced to two years and be served in a county jail.
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