编舞师出庭为杰克逊死亡案件作证

    An associate choreographer* who worked on Michael Jackson’s planned comeback concerts testified on Monday that she didn’t see any signs that the pop superstar was ill or might die in the final days of his life.

    “I just never in a million years thought he would leave us, or pass away,” Stacy Walker told jurors* hearing a lawsuit filed by Jackson’s mother against concert promoter AEG Live LLC. “It just never crossed my mind.”

    Walker, who is testifying for AEG, said Jackson appeared thinner than he had been in previous years and wore multiple layers of clothes while preparing for his “This Is It” shows planned for London’s O2 arena. She said despite Jackson missing multiple rehearsals*, she was convinced based on his performances in the last two days of his life that he was ready for the series of shows.

    Her testimony was supported by Travis Payne, an associate director on the “This Is It” concerts.

    “I thought he was thinner than he was in the past, but I didn’t have any reason to be alarmed,” Payne said.

    He briefly discussed Jackson missing rehearsals, but has not yet addressed Jackson’s appearance in his final days. Payne resumes testifying on Tuesday.

    Walker was the first witness called by AEG in a trial filed by Jackson’s mother, Katherine, against the concert promoter. Her suit claims AEG didn’t properly investigate the doctor convicted* of involuntary manslaughter* in Jackson’s death and that its executives missed signs that the singer was unprepared for the comeback shows.

    AEG denies all wrongdoing, and contends Jackson hid his struggles with prescription drug addiction. Jackson died in June 2009 from an overdose* of the anesthetic propofol*, which he had been using as a sleep aid.

    Previous witnesses have testified that Jackson was shivering, had to be fed by others and appeared unprepared while preparing for the “This Is It” shows.

    (SD-Agencies)Michael Jackson (L) and Stacy Walker.