Crowds swarm L.A. courthouse as trial begins

Janet Jackson and Randy Jackson arrive at the courthouse for the beginning of the Conrad Murray trial.

It’s even bigger than we expected!  The crowds are enormous outside of the L.A. County Courthouse.

We’ve already had some big surprises – the first is the number of supporters who are here for Dr. Conrad Murray.  I spoke with Dr. Murray’s administrative assistant who came here from San Diego to stand up for her boss.  She says he is a man very similar to Michael Jackson: a loving man, a man who wants world peace and she knows in her heart that Dr. Conrad Murray is a good man.

There are signs from Murray supporters saying “Innocent” and “Justice for Dr. Murray.” On the other side are the Michael Jackson fans who say they are here because he showed his love for them when he was alive and now it is their turn to show their love for him.

One fan told me she is lucky enough to live in L.A. and it is her responsibility to be here in person to represent fans from around the world.  They have signs with pictures of Dr. Murray that say “He’s Bad.”  There are also a number of “Justice for Michael” signs and even this one (use Selin’s photo) from as far away as Berlin.  I spoke with that fan and she said she came from Germany because Michael Jackson changed her life.  A true sign of a pop icon.

The Jackson family arrived in several SUVs and it was an impressive entrance.  When I asked Jermaine for one word he said to me “justice.”

The biggest surprise was the arrival of Janet Jackson who was not expected this morning.  She and her brother Randy entered the court holding hands, both of them there to show support for their brother Michael.

A number of the Michael Jackson fans are carrying sunflowers – that was the pop icon’s favorite flower and they are using it as a sign of their hope for justice.

Other signs I saw: “Drugs are expected to heal not kill,” “Hugs not drugs,” and “Murray took his money then he took his life.”

On the Murray side more signs read “Dr. Murray must be exonerated.”

Opening statements are now underway and airing live on HLN.