PALIN MITENK BLOG

By David Gardner

Surrounded: Dr Conrad Murray is led into the the Los Angeles Airport Courthouse where he was charged with his connection in the death of Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson’s doctor appeared in court last night charged with causing the pop star’s death.

Dr Conrad Murray pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter at the brief hearing in Los Angeles.

Members of Jackson’s family were in court, with sister LaToya saying Murray should have been charged with premeditated murder.

The cardiologist, 56, has been at the centre of the police investigation into Jackson’s death since he collapsed at his home last June.


Murray faces up to four years behind bars if he is found guilty. To win a conviction for involuntary manslaughter in the U.S., prosecutors must prove that gross negligence was a key factor in the death.

The doctor was the last person to see Jackson alive and he has taken the brunt of the blame for the tragedy for allegedly administering the 50-year-old star with a lethal dose of propofol, a powerful hospital anaesthetic he used to help combat chronic insomnia.

Granting Murray bail, the judge told him he could continue working but added: ‘I don’t want you sedating anyone.’

According to the criminal charge, the heart specialist ‘did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson in the commission of an unlawful act without due caution and circumspection’.

He was formally charged after surrendering at Los Angeles Airport Court yesterday and was released on £50,000 bail, three times the usual amount for involuntary manslaughter cases.

He appeared grim-faced as the charges were read out to him.

The court heard that the California medical board has filed to have the doctor’s licence revoked. He has surrendered his passport to the authorities.


Family presence: Jermaine and La Toya Jackson attend the courthouse soon after the charge was filed


'Looking for justice': It was all Joe Jackson said as he walked past the crowd of fans, reporters and photographers

A preliminary date for his next appearance was set as April 5.

The Jackson family has made no secret of its anger at prosecutors for being too lenient and claim Murray should be charged with murder.

Arriving at court about one hour before the hearing, Jackson’s eldest brother, Jermaine, said ‘it’s not enough’ when asked for his reaction to the charge.

The singer’s parents, Joe and Katherine, as well as his siblings Tito, Randy and LaToya also sat in the public gallery.


Michael Jackson's family, including his father Joe Jackson, brother Jackie, sister La Toya, and brother Tito arrive at the Los Angeles Superior Court Airport Branch Courthouse for the arraignment of Dr Conrad Murray


Loyal: Jackson fans gather outside the courthouse to show how they feel about the charge against Dr Murray


Family lawyer Brian Oxman said: ‘The family are not angry. They are not vindictive. They are heartbroken.

‘They do not think a charge of involuntary manslaughter is appropriate. They feel it is a slap in the face.’

Fans gathered outside the court, waving placards and banners which read ‘Justice for Michael Jackson’ and ‘No Special Treatment for Conrad Murderer’.

Murray has adamantly claimed that nothing he gave the singer should have killed him.


Proud: Jackson's children Paris and Prince Michael accept an honorary Grammy for their father at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards


Earlier this month, he hired Los Angelesbased Michael Flanagan, reportedly the only defence lawyer in California to have won an acquittal on an involuntary manslaughter case involving propofol.

The Los Angeles Coroner has ruled that Jackson’s death was a homicide and was caused by ‘acute propofol intoxication’.

The full coroner’s report said the anaesthetic was administered in a non-hospital setting without any appropriate medical facilities.

Murray’s lead defence lawyer, Ed Chernoff, said last night: ‘We’ll plead not guilty and we’ll fight like hell.’


source: dailymail