On June 25, 2009, the world mourned the loss of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop whose music and charisma touched millions.

But for his then 11-year-old daughter, Paris Jackson, the loss was deeply personal and painfully raw. During the 2011 trial of Dr.

Conrad Murray—the doctor convicted of involuntary manslaughter for administering the lethal dose of propofol that led to Jackson’s death—Paris’s heartbreaking plea to see her father’s body emerged as one of the most poignant moments of the case, revealing the profound grief of a child losing her hero.

Testimonies during the trial painted a vivid and tragic picture of the hours following Jackson’s death at their Los Angeles home. Among the many accounts, those describing Paris’s sorrow stand out. Overwhelmed by the reality of her father’s absence, Paris tearfully begged, “I want to see my daddy,” her voice trembling with fear and heartbreak.

Witnesses described her sobbing as she grappled with the terrifying prospect of living without the man who was her protector and idol.

Michael Jackson had fiercely shielded Paris and her brothers—Prince and Blanket—from the public spotlight, striving to provide them with as much normalcy as possible despite his fame. But in that moment, the protective barrier fell away, revealing the universal pain of a child confronting loss.

The courtroom, heavy with the gravity of the tragedy, was moved by the rawness of Paris’s grief—a powerful reminder that beyond the legend was a father whose death left a devastating void.

Family staff, including the Jackson family’s chef Kai Chase, testified to the chaotic and heartbreaking scene at the home. They recounted how paramedics and security moved through the house as the children struggled to understand what had happened.

The prosecution used these emotional testimonies to underline the far-reaching consequences of Dr. Murray’s negligence—not just a loss of life, but a shattered family left to pick up the pieces.

For Paris, this sorrowful episode marked the beginning of a lifelong journey of healing and remembrance. While she has since spoken about her father’s love and the challenges of growing up in his shadow, the trial testimony offers a glimpse into her pain at the moment when the loss first struck.

As the world followed the trial, Paris’s tearful plea resonated beyond the headlines. It was not just a celebrity’s final goodbye, but the anguished cry of a daughter yearning to hold onto the last connection with her father.

In those few words—“I want to see my daddy”—lies a profound testament to love, loss, and the human heart behind the icon.