Seven months after the sudden death of the King of Pop Michael Jackson, Dr Conrad Murray – the controversial doctor at the centre of the police investigation into his death – has been formally charged with manslaughter. Check out the report via The Telegraph after the jump:
Dr Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson’s personal doctor, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter over the singer’s death.
Dr Murray, who would face up to four years in jail if convicted, is accused of acting “unlawfully and without malice” in bringing about Michael Jackson’s death, prosecutors said.
They said Dr Murray had acted “without the caution and circumspection required” when he administered a powerful sedative to Jackson in an effort to help him sleep.
Dr Murray was due to appear later at a court in Los Angeles to have the single charge read to him.
His lawyer Ed Chernoff said he would plead not guilty and he was expected to be bailed. Mr Chernoff said: “We’ll make bail, we’ll plead not guilty and we’ll fight like hell.”
Dr Murray was allowed to surrender himself at court in Los Angeles without being handcuffed. As he walked into court he was jeered by fans of the singer who hoisted banners including “Justice for Michael.”
Jackson’s parents Joe and Katherine, and siblings Tito, LaToya and Jermaine also arrived at court. Asked if he was the happy with the charge, Jermaine Jackson said: “It’s not enough.”
Police have been investigating Dr Murray since Jackson, who was 50, died at a rented mansion in Los Angeles on June 25 last year.
Dr Murray has acknowledged that he administered the anaesthetic propofol and other sedatives as Jackson, a chronic insomniac, struggled to sleep.
But he denies giving the singer anything that could have killed him.
He had been hired as the performer’s personal physician as Jackson prepared for a series of comeback concerts in London.
Dr Murray was to have travelled with Jackson to London and had closed down his cardiology practices in Houston and Las Vegas to devote himself to the singer full time.The Los Angeles coroner’s office ruled that Jackson’s death was a homicide by drug overdose, principally propofol, with other sedatives a contributing factor.
The case against Dr Murray was delayed last week after disagreements between prosecutors, police and the doctor’s lawyers over whether he should be allowed to surrender without being arrested.
In the days before he was charged Dr Murray was photographed visiting Jackson’s tomb in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Here’s hoping justice will be served.