Dr. Conrad Murray has been charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson.
Story Published:
Feb 8, 2010 at 2:07 AM PDT
Story Updated:
Feb 8, 2010 at 1:28 PM PDT
Michael Jackson’s personal physician was charged with involuntary manslaughter Monday in connection with the pop superstar’s death from an overdose of a powerful prescription sedative.
Dr. Conrad Murray, 56, was expected to surrender for arraignment on the felony charge Monday afternoon at the Airport Branch Courthouse.
Murray will likely plead not guilty to the charge, which carries a potential four-year prison term. He will also likely post bail, and after being booked, will reportedly leave Los Angeles bound for either Las Vegas or Houston, where he has a medical practice.
According to the complaint, Murray “did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson ... in the commission of an unlawful act.”
Several members of Jackson’s family, including brothers Jermaine and Tito, sister LaToya and father Joe, showed up at the Airport Courthouse Monday to attend Murray’s afternoon court hearing.
A group of Michael Jackson fans, some carrying signs and a large banner reading “The King of Pop: Michael Jackson Gone Too Soon,” were also gathered near the Airport Courthouse. One fan waved a sign that read, “Conrad Murray is a murderer. Arrest him in handcuffs.”
Murray had been expected to surrender to authorities Friday, but his appearance was canceled amid accusations by his attorney that local authorities wanted him handcuffed and escorted to the courthouse for a “photo op.”
Both the district attorney’s office and Los Angeles Police Department denied the accusation by attorney Ed Chernoff.
Murray was the focal point of a seven-month investigation that began after Jackson’s death last year. At the time, he was serving as Jackson’s personal physician while the singer prepared in Los Angeles for a series of 50 concerts at London’s O2 arena.
Jackson, 50, was staying at a rented estate in the Holmby Hills while he was rehearsing for the performances. On June 25, the singer was found unresponsive in his bedroom and rushed to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead around 2 p.m.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office blamed Jackson’s death on “acute propofol intoxication.” The powerful sedative is normally administered by an anesthesiologist in a hospital setting.
Murray has denied wrongdoing and insisted he didn’t give Jackson anything that should have caused his death.
He told investigators that he gave the sedative to Jackson to help him sleep, but that he was trying to wean him off the drug because he thought the singer was becoming addicted.
He also said he left the pop star for just a couple of minutes to go to the bathroom, and that Jackson was not breathing when he returned.
Based on cellphone records, investigators suspect he left Jackson unattended for as long as 45 minutes.
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