Ng'wanza Madaso
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- Oct 21, 2008
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Jackson Doctor Denies Manslaughter Charge
© Sky News 2010
Michael Jackson's doctor has pleaded not guilty after being charged with involuntary manslaughter over the star's death.
Enlarge photo
Dr Conrad Murray appeared in court in Los Angeles to face prosecutors' claims that he "did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson".
If convicted of the charge, the King of Pop's personal physician faces up to four years in prison.
In pleading not guilty, Dr Murray has set the stage for a sensational courtroom drama and a face-off with members of the Jackson family.
The 56-year-old's lawyer Ed Chernoff entered the plea before the doctor was ordered to surrender his passport and banned from travelling outside the US.
Dr Murray was granted bail at $75,000 - three times the normal amount - and will next appear in court on April 5.
He is not allowed to administer the anaesthetic Propofol pending a decision on whether or not his medical license should be suspended.
Mr Chernoff said his client lost a friend when Jackson died and was "personally upset".
Dr Murray will be returning to Houston, Texas, to continue working and spend time with his family, the lawyer said.
Members of Jackson's family including his mother and father, his brothers Jermaine, Randy and Tito Jackson, his sister La Toya attended the court hearing.
His father, Joe Jackson, said he was "looking for justice".
Celebrity website TMZ, which broke the news of Jackson's death, has obtained a full copy of the LA Coroner's report which concludes Propofol killed the singer.
Officials say the singer died after Dr Murray administered the powerful general anaesthetic and two other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep on June 25.
Jackson hired Dr Murray to be his personal physician as he prepared for his comeback performances at London's o2 arena.
Sky News US correspondent Greg Milam said the family wanted a more aggressive charge to be brought against the doctor.
"They wanted a charge of premeditated murder and they are angry at the delay there has been," he said.
"The maximum [sentence for involuntary manslaughter] under Californian, law is four years.
"We know for example Dr Murray's legal team will argue that Michael Jackson was a man well used to taking this kind of drug and sedatives and therefore accepted a lot of the risks that went with it.
"They may suggest he had a tolerance to that drug and therefore Dr Murray is not completely responsible for what happened in his last hours."
Statements already released by police have said Dr Murray was attempting to wean Jackson off the sedatives but believed he was being supplied by other doctors.
Dr Murray appears to have obtained the drug legally and its use is not in itself a crime.
© Sky News 2010 Michael Jackson's doctor has pleaded not guilty after being charged with involuntary manslaughter over the star's death.
Enlarge photo Dr Conrad Murray appeared in court in Los Angeles to face prosecutors' claims that he "did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson".
If convicted of the charge, the King of Pop's personal physician faces up to four years in prison.
In pleading not guilty, Dr Murray has set the stage for a sensational courtroom drama and a face-off with members of the Jackson family.
The 56-year-old's lawyer Ed Chernoff entered the plea before the doctor was ordered to surrender his passport and banned from travelling outside the US.
Dr Murray was granted bail at $75,000 - three times the normal amount - and will next appear in court on April 5.
He is not allowed to administer the anaesthetic Propofol pending a decision on whether or not his medical license should be suspended.
Mr Chernoff said his client lost a friend when Jackson died and was "personally upset".
Dr Murray will be returning to Houston, Texas, to continue working and spend time with his family, the lawyer said.
Members of Jackson's family including his mother and father, his brothers Jermaine, Randy and Tito Jackson, his sister La Toya attended the court hearing.
His father, Joe Jackson, said he was "looking for justice".
Celebrity website TMZ, which broke the news of Jackson's death, has obtained a full copy of the LA Coroner's report which concludes Propofol killed the singer.
Officials say the singer died after Dr Murray administered the powerful general anaesthetic and two other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep on June 25.
Jackson hired Dr Murray to be his personal physician as he prepared for his comeback performances at London's o2 arena.
Sky News US correspondent Greg Milam said the family wanted a more aggressive charge to be brought against the doctor.
"They wanted a charge of premeditated murder and they are angry at the delay there has been," he said.
"The maximum [sentence for involuntary manslaughter] under Californian, law is four years.
"We know for example Dr Murray's legal team will argue that Michael Jackson was a man well used to taking this kind of drug and sedatives and therefore accepted a lot of the risks that went with it.
"They may suggest he had a tolerance to that drug and therefore Dr Murray is not completely responsible for what happened in his last hours."
Statements already released by police have said Dr Murray was attempting to wean Jackson off the sedatives but believed he was being supplied by other doctors.
Dr Murray appears to have obtained the drug legally and its use is not in itself a crime.
