Coroner testifies no evidence Jackson gave himself fatal dose

Dr. Christopher Rogers, who conducted the autopsy on Jackson, countered the key contention by defense lawyers for Dr. Conrad Murray that Jackson self-administered the drug when Murray briefly left the room.

Rogers told jurors a more likely scenario was that Murray misjudged how much propofol he gave the entertainer.

Rogers said he considered a number of factors in ruling the death a homicide. Among them were Murray’s statements to police and the lack of sophisticated medical equipment in Jackson’s bedroom, where the singer had been receiving the anesthetic as a sleep aid.

“I think it would be easy under the circumstances for the doctor to estimate wrong and give too much propofol,’’ Rogers said.

Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Rogers’s testimony came after jurors heard the end of Murray’s June 27, 2009, recorded police interview in which he first disclosed he had been giving Jackson propofol to help him sleep.

Prosecutors played the remaining 40 minutes of the interview, which included Murray’s description of informing Jackson’s mother and children that the entertainer had died.

“After they cried and cried and cried, then his daughter uttered a lot of words of unhappiness,’’ Murray told detectives, saying Paris Jackson was afraid of being alone.

“ ‘I know you tried your best, but I’m really sad,’ ’’ he continued, recounting her words. “ ‘I will wake up in the morning, and I won’t be able to see my daddy.’ ’’

Jackson’s mother, Katherine, dabbed her eyes as the recording played.