Basic techniques that could have prevented Michael Jackson's death were not used according to a leading anaesthesiologist in the Los Angeles trial of Dr Conrad Murray yesterday (Oct 20).

Doctor Steven Shafer claims lifting Jackson's chin could have cleared the airwaves allowing time for procedures to be taken to revive the star following a lethal dose of Propofol.

Dr Shafer told the court; "The most likely thing that happened was that his airways were obstructed. Michael Jackson was trying to breath but his tongue got stuck in the back of his throat." He continued;

'A simple chin lift or the use of an instrument to move the tongue may well have been all that was needed to save his life."

The Columbia University professor who helped write the official guidelines on Propofol  accused The King Of Pop's doctor, Conrad Murray, of lacking the basic equipment needed when administering the drug. He went on to say the drug is not usually associated with treating the insomnia Jackson was suffering from.

"We are in pharmacological never-never land here, something that was done to Michael Jackson and no one else in history to my knowledge," he told the jury.

Dr Shafer went on to say Dr Murray should have refused the Pop star's requests for the drug.

"Saying 'yes' is not what doctors do," he said. "A competent doctor would know you do not do this."

The jury were also shown a video reconstruction of an anaesthesiologist administering Propafol in a hospital setting. Some scenes were rejected by Judge Michael Pastor for being too distressing and inflammatory.

Dr Shafer is the prosecution's final witness before the defence make make their case.

Dr Murray has pleaded 'not guilty' to the charge of involuntary manslaughter.