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Los Angeles (CNN) -- Round two in the battle of the propofol experts enters its final stage Friday in the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor as the defense anesthesiology expert resumes his testimony that began Thursday.
Dr. Paul White is expected to counter the conclusions of prosecution anesthesiologist Dr. Steven Shafer, whose earlier testimony spanned more than a week of Dr. Conrad Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial.
When the defense direct questioning of White concludes, likely around noon Friday, the court will recess until Monday morning when the prosecution will begin its cross-examination, according to the transcript of a meeting in the judge's chambers.
Closing arguments could come as soon as Tuesday in the trial that began in late September.
Dr. White said that after reviewing the reports, evidence and analysis from investigators in Jackson's death he was not convinced Dr. Murray was responsible.
Dr. Conrad Murray listens to testimony Thursday during his involuntary manslaughter trial into Michael Jackson\'s death.
Dr. Conrad Murray listens to testimony Thursday during his involuntary manslaughter trial into Michael Jackson's death.
"I was somewhat perplexed at how a determination has been made that Dr. Murray was infusing propofol," White said. "It wasn't obvious to me, I thought there were questions."
A drug-addiction specialist testified earlier Thursday that Jackson was "probably addicted" to a powerful painkiller given him during frequent visits to a Beverly Hills dermatologist in the three months before his death.
Dr. Robert Waldman was called by the defense in an effort to show Jackson's insomnia the day he died could have been caused by withdrawal from Demerol shots he was given along with botox injections, treatments that Dr. Murray didn't know about.
White, who is the last witness before the defense rests, spent most of the first two hours establishing his credentials as one of the world's foremost experts on the surgical anesthetic propofol, which the coroner ruled was the chief drug that killed Jackson.
The personal and professional rivalry between Dr. White and Dr. Shafer played an odd role in Thursday's testimony.
White's longtime friendship with Shafer has been tested during the Murray trial, including an incident last week that resulted in the judge scheduling a contempt-of-court hearing against White for next month.
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At one point Thursday, White suggested someone "tell Dr. Shafer he needs to learn how to spell plasma," because it was misspelled on a graph he created. The prosecutor said Shafer did not make the graph.
White, however, attempted to downplay his rivalry with Shafer when the judge mistakenly called White "Dr. Shafer" for a second time.
