Michael Jackson's doctor charged in singer's death
Associated Press -- Linda Deutsch, AP Special Correspondent
Issue date: 2/8/10 Section: A&E
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Michael Jackson's doctor was charged Monday with involuntary manslaughter, capping an exhaustive investigation into the pop star's stunning death last summer and setting up the prospect of another sensational celebrity courtroom drama.
Dr. Conrad Murray, a cardiologist who was with Jackson when he died June 25 at his rented Los Angeles mansion, is accused of the single felony count in a five-page complaint filed in Superior Court. According to the complaint, Murray "did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson" by acting "without the caution and circumspection required."
The complaint contains no details on Jackson's death but authorities have said the singer died after Murray administered a powerful general anesthetic and other drugs to help Jackson rest. Murray has said he did nothing that should have caused Jackson to die.
If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison.
Soon after the charge was filed, several members of Jackson's family, including his mother and father; his brothers Jermaine, Randy, and Tito Jackson; and his sister LaToya Jackson arrived in a fleet of Cadillac Escalades at the courthouse adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport, where hundreds of reporters and Jackson fans were gathered outside.
"Looking for justice," was all Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, said as he walked past a crowd of reporters and into the courthouse.
The charge was expected, and Murray's attorney, Ed Chernoff, said his client planned to surrender to authorities later Monday.
"We'll make bail, we'll plead not guilty and we'll fight like hell," Chernoff said before the charge was filed.
Jackson, 50, hired Murray to be his personal physician as he prepared for a strenuous series of comeback concerts in London. Officials say the singer died after Murray administered the powerful general anesthetic propofol and two other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep.
Known as "milk of amnesia," propofol is only supposed to be administered by an anesthesia professional in a medical setting because it depresses breathing and heart rate while lowering blood pressure.
Dr. Conrad Murray, a cardiologist who was with Jackson when he died June 25 at his rented Los Angeles mansion, is accused of the single felony count in a five-page complaint filed in Superior Court. According to the complaint, Murray "did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson" by acting "without the caution and circumspection required."
The complaint contains no details on Jackson's death but authorities have said the singer died after Murray administered a powerful general anesthetic and other drugs to help Jackson rest. Murray has said he did nothing that should have caused Jackson to die.
If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison.
Soon after the charge was filed, several members of Jackson's family, including his mother and father; his brothers Jermaine, Randy, and Tito Jackson; and his sister LaToya Jackson arrived in a fleet of Cadillac Escalades at the courthouse adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport, where hundreds of reporters and Jackson fans were gathered outside.
"Looking for justice," was all Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, said as he walked past a crowd of reporters and into the courthouse.
The charge was expected, and Murray's attorney, Ed Chernoff, said his client planned to surrender to authorities later Monday.
"We'll make bail, we'll plead not guilty and we'll fight like hell," Chernoff said before the charge was filed.
Jackson, 50, hired Murray to be his personal physician as he prepared for a strenuous series of comeback concerts in London. Officials say the singer died after Murray administered the powerful general anesthetic propofol and two other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep.
Known as "milk of amnesia," propofol is only supposed to be administered by an anesthesia professional in a medical setting because it depresses breathing and heart rate while lowering blood pressure.
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