The week's big stories: Michael Jackson death case goes to jury, speculation about who will buy the Dodgers, fire at the Magic Castle and more.
Conrad Murray Jury Goes Home for Weekend
The first full day of deliberations in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson’s personal physician ended without a verdict.
The seven-man, five-woman panel ranging in age from 32 to 57 went home for the weekend without deciding the fate of Dr. Conrad Murray.
Jurors will return Monday at 8:30 a.m. and it’s anyone’s guess how long it will take the group to decide.
Family Wants Feds to Probe Deadly Police Shooting
The family of a man who was shot to death by Long Beach police after holding up what turned out to be the nozzle of a garden hose is demanding a federal investigation.
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On Friday, L.A. County District Attorney Steve Cooley said the death was justifiable, because the officer thought that Doug Zerby was aiming a gun at them as he sat on a friend's porch in the affluent neighborhood of Belmont Shore.
Long Beach police came to the same conclusion.
But Zerby's outraged family has demanded that the federal government step in.
"I know they murdered my son in cold blood," said Pam Amici, Zerby's mother.
The incident began when neighbors reported a man with a gun at or near their home in Belmont Shore on Dec. 12, 2010.
When police arrived, Zerby was apparently intoxicated and held up what turned out to be a garden hose nozzle.
Officers thought it was a gun and opened fire.
Even though the fire was tiny, Angelenos flocked to this story depicting Hollywood's iconic Magic Castle in flames.
Over 100 firefighters were sent to the private club Monday to fight a blaze that damaged the attic and walls, and triggered sprinklers throughout the building creating water damage, Matt Spence of the Los Angeles Fire Department told NBC 4.
The Halloween fire took about an hour to put out, and no injuries were reported.
The venue, a private club, was hosting a series of shows dubbed, appropriately enough, “Inferno at the Castle.”
"For the last week in October, The Magic Castle will be ON FIRE with the spirit of Halloween!" wrote organizer's on the castle's website.
Riverside Girl Trapped in Child Sex Trade
A teenage girl from Riverside has been trapped in the sex trade in Tijuana’s red light district, NBC LA's Antonio Castelan reported this week..
The illegal sex trade is a growing export from the U.S. to Mexico, according to the State Human Rights Commission of Baja, California.
“We know that this problem is not a local one,” said Francisco Cota, a spokesman with the commission. “It’s a regional problem. It’s a bi-national problem. If there is a demand here in Mexico. There’s going to be demand in LA.”
The commercial sexual exploitation of children rakes in an estimated $32 million a year, according to the commission.
Police Investigate Walmart Beating Death
The apparent beating death of a man inside a Lakewood Walmart store is under investigation.
The incident occurred in the sporting goods section Tuesday around 4:47 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
A customer at the scene told NBC4 is appeared the victim, a 74-year-old man, was beaten with a baseball bat. A 46-year-old male suspect was detained pending further investigation, sheriff’s deputies said.
Winter Storm Shocks Southland, But Won't Stay Long
Lucky for Angelenos, Friday’s winter-like storm will not set the tone for the weekend.
A sunny and cool Saturday is expected in the Southland, but not before a frosty Friday night.
Moderate rain showers might fall Sunday morning between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. But it won’t be nearly as wet or cold as Friday’s storm, and the rain is expected to stop around 8 p.m.
“I think we’ve actually established a winter weather pattern,” said NBC4 forecaster Fritz Coleman.
Frank McCourt Agrees to Sell, Fans Look Ahead to Change
Less than a month before a scheduled appearance in bankruptcy court, Frank McCourt reached an agreement with Major League Baseball to sell the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The two entities will enter a “court supervised process” to sell the team and its media rights.
But who will take over the reins?
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, LA Marathon founder Bill Burke, White Sox exec Dennis Gilbert and businessmen Ron Burkle and Alex Gores have all shown interest in a possible bid.
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