At the Carver County Courthouse in Minnesota, Kirk Johnson is quizzed about the events leading up to the 'Purple Rain' hitmaker's death from an accidental fentanyl overdose in April 2016.
- May 31, 2019
AceShowbiz - A former bodyguard for Prince endured a seven-hour deposition on Wednesday, May 29 as part of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the late music icon's family.
Kirk Johnson was quizzed by attorneys at the Carver County Courthouse in Minnesota about the events leading up to the tragic singer's death from an accidental fentanyl overdose on April 21, 2016.
Prince's relatives claim the "Purple Rain" hitmaker failed to receive proper care from Dr. Michael Schulenberg and bosses at the hospital where he worked, as well as officials at a second medical centre and the Walgreens pharmacy chain, from which the musician had two prescriptions filled prior to his unexpected passing.
Schulenberg is alleged to have prescribed the powerful painkiller oxycodone to Johnson, knowing full well the drugs were actually for Prince. The doctor has denied the accusations, although he previously agreed to pay $30,000 (£23,800) to settle a federal civil violation about the illegal prescription of the medication.
Johnson's attorney, F. Clayton Tyler, insisted having to relive the tragedy of his boss' passing for the deposition was particularly difficult for his client.
"This was a traumatic event for my client," Tyler told local news station KSTP-TV. "He feels very sad over the loss of a good friend of his. To have to come back and go through this and re-litigate this whole matter has been very difficult."
The wrongful death lawsuit was filed last year (18), days after authorities decided against pursuing criminal charges regarding Prince's demise.
