Michael Jackson's former bodyguard has told a court Conrad Murray instructed him to hide vials of medicine before calling 911 in the moments leading up to the singer's death.
Mr Alvarez said at first he thought he was bagging the items in preparation for a trip to the hospital. He said he trusted Murray because he was a doctor.
The bodyguard also told the Los Angeles court he saw what appeared to be a 125ml bottle of the drug said to have killed Jackson in a saline bag hooked up to the pop star.
He added: "I was able to notice at the bottom of the bag what appeared to me like a milky white substance."
When shown a photo of a propofol bottle and asked if that was the item inside the saline bag, he answered: "Yes."
Barrister Michael McParland On Propofol Testimony
Murray, 58, faces up to four years in jail if convicted of involuntary manslaughter for administering the overdose of propofol, which Jackson referred to as "milk" to help him sleep.
The defence team for the doctor insists Jackson self-administered other sedatives, prompting the overdose.
Commenting on the case, barrister Michael McParland told Sky News Mr Alvarez's evidence was highly significant.
The prosecution hold up the saline bag to Mr Alvarez
The prosecution hold up the saline bag to Mr Alvarez
He said: "This was the first evidence that actually connects propofol to the death of Michael Jackson."The defence's case is that it was not Dr Murray who administered it but Jackson himself.
"What the prosecution are trying to suggest is that Murray put a propofol bottle into the saline bag to leave it there as a running drug drip into Jackson's left leg.
"If that is correct, it is very damning evidence. Propofol should never be administered out of hospital and certainly not out of constant monitoring."
Earlier, Mr Alvarez told the court he was in charge of back stage during Jackson's final rehearsal on June 24, 2009.
He described Jackson as being "very happy" and "in good spirits" during the rehearsal for a series of comeback concerts.
"He was doing very well for the most part of the performance," he said.
The bodyguard explained that he later drove Jackson back to his rented Holmby Hills home and saw Murray's car parked there.
Dr Conrad Murray in court on day three of his trial
He said the last time he saw Jackson alive and well was when he said "good night" to him.
Mr Alvarez was the first person to enter Jackson's bedroom after Murray phoned for help as he was trying to resuscitate the singer.
He described Jackson as lying on his back, with his hands extended out to his side, and his eyes and mouth open.
"When I came into the room, Dr Murray said 'Alberto, hurry, we have to get to hospital, we have to get an ambulance.'"
He then said Jackson's children Paris and Prince entered the room behind him.
Mr Alvarez: "Paris screamed out 'Daddy' and she was crying.
"Dr Murray said to me, 'Don't let them see their dad like this'.
"I ushered the children out and told them, 'Don't worry, we will take care of it, everything is going to be okay.'"
Mr Alvarez asked what had happened to Jackson, to which Murray replied: "He had a bad reaction".
A photo of Jackson's bedroom is shown to the jury
Mr Alvarez said he then helped Murray give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by pumping Jackson's chest while the trained cardiologist gave mouth-to-mouth.
"I recall that after a few breaths... he came up and he said, 'This is the first time I (have done) mouth-to-mouth, but I have to, he's my friend'," said Mr Alvarez.
Sky's US correspondent Greg Milam, who was at the court, said Mr Alvarez gave "some pretty powerful testimony".
Milam added: "He was asked whether he could be confused about anything that happened in Michael Jackson's bedroom and he said he didn't believe that was possible although he admitted there was a state of high tension and he was in shock."
The court later heard from another witness - Jackson's personal chef Kai Chase who cooked daily meals for the singer and his children.
Jackson's personal cook Kai Chase giving evidence
She said Jackson had not eaten his evening meal, Tuscan white bean soup, on the eve of his death as it remained in the fridge untouched the morning after.
She said, on the day of Jackson's death, Murray went downstairs to the kitchen between 12.05pm and 12.10pm in a frenzied state.
"His energy was very nervous, frantic and he shouted, 'Get help, get Prince and get security'," she said.
She said she went to find Prince who was playing in a den and that the youngster went upstairs after seeing Murray. She returned to work in the kitchen.
Asked by a prosecution lawyer whether Murray ever asked her to call 911, Ms Chase said: "No."
Fans and supporters of both sides stand outside courthouse on day three
Two paramedics who tried to save Jackson's life are due to give evidence today.
Martin Blount and Richard Senneff are expected to say Jackson already appeared to be dead when they arrived at his home on June 25, 2009.
Source:www.news.sky.com
